21 April, 2018

COURT SUSTAINS UNIMA’S INJUNCTION AGAINST UWTU

The High Court in Zomba on Friday April 20, 2018 sustained an injunction which Council for University of Malawi obtained on 13 April, 2018 compelling University Workers’ Trade Union (UWTU) to go back to work after the union had embarked on a sit-in on 10^th April, 2018.

UWTU wants Council for University of Malawi to effect salary increments based on the 15^th July 2017 agreement where Council agreed to raise salaries for UWTU members by 25%. During the 15^th July agreement both parties agreed to have a staggered implementation of the 25% adjustment starting with 13% immediately and the remaining 12% would be decided in January 2018 during the mid-year budget review.

In his communication to all the University’s constituent colleges, the University Registrar Dr. Benedicto Wokomatani Malunga says the court has ruled that the parties should identify the conciliator to assist in the negotiation of the industrial disputes.

“Please be advised that as agreed at Council yesterday (19th April, 2018), our Legal Counsel was in Court today to face his counterpart representing the University Workers’ Trade Union in an inter partes hearing centering on whether the injunction Council was granted on 13th April, 2018 should be upheld or not”, informs Dr Malunga.

Reads the communication in part “…As of now the verdict on the first matter which was held today is that Council’s injunction has been sustained on the understanding in seven days’ time the parties to the industrial disagreement that has taken Council to Court will find a Conciliator to resolve their differences on the interpretation of their 15th July, 2017 agreement…”

Justice Redson Edward Kapindu presided over the case.