University of Dar es Salaaam lecturers and other staff have announced a strike to press the government to review their retirement benefits.
UDSM Council Chairman retired Judge Joseph Warioba yesterday visited the university to request them not to strike, saying the government was working on their demands.
Efforts to get comments from the minister of Education and Vocational Training, Prof Jumanne Maghembe proved futile, while deputy minister Mwantumu Mahiza did not respond to phone calls on the issue.
The lecturers are demanding for improvement of retirement benefits administered under the Public Pension Fund which they claimed were poor compared to the benefits which other civil servants get under Public Service Pension Fund.
The strike started yesterday immediately after the meeting of the academicians under the leadership of University of Dar es Salaam Academic Staff Assembly President (UDASA) Damas Nyahoro.
He said that their demands for improved retirement benefits have taken so long to be worked out with many unfulfilled promises.
He said that they had been warned that if they went on strike they would be taken to court, adding that they would not relent.
Nyahoro said social security funds were established to serve workers but it is surprising to hear that they have no funds.
He said the pension funds had the resources to pay their members good benefits.
“Today we are meeting with lecturers from other universities in the country so that we could discuss our fate,” Nyahoro said.
Speaking during the meeting the lecturers said that they are tired of the government promises which they said started ten years ago. A lecturer said they have been told that there was a circular concerning them which has been submitted to the cabinet but they were not aware of its contents.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Dar Es Salaam Time
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