Joint PRESS RELEASE by LASINU & SINUGSA: Response to “Strike Threats are Illegal” by SINU Management

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The two Staff Associations of SINU (LASINU & SINUGSA) wish to make the following responses to the Press Release made by SINU Management.

Firstly, it must be made clear here and now that the two Associations are legal entity in the University setup under the ACT of Parliament. Reference to the two employees whom SINU mgt claimed to threaten another strike is a total nonsense. Perhaps the SINU mgt needed to be reminded that the two persons you referred to are Presidents of the two Association (LASINU & SINUGSA) respectively. All communications released by these two persons represents views of 99% of staff employed by SINU in both the Academic and General Services. If the SINU mgt thinks that singling individuals is a means to dis-unite or fragment members of our two associations, you are being illusioned.

Perhaps it will be in the best interest to everyone that we highlight the ruling of the Trade Dispute Panel (TDP) on the 19th August 2020, which we feel ruled in favour towards resolving the current impasse. In their ruling, the Panel made the following Orders;

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1. That the termination of any staff during the period the matter is before the Panel is in breach of Section 10 of the TDP Act and therefore void and illegal and staff affected should reinstated.
2. That any strike by the two Association when the matter is before the Panel is in breach of Section 10 of the TDP Act and is illegal.
3. That Counsel for the University to advise University Council to immediately suspend the Vice Chancellor pending full investigation of the allegations made against him.
4. That the Counsel for the University to advise the University Council to terminate the appointment of any committee appointed to investigate the allegations made against the VC if the VC himself has been part in the making of the appointments and a new committee be appointed without the VC’s involvement.
5. That both parties are at liberty to request the TDP Secretary Panel sitting should there is a need.
6. That any party aggrieved by this Order they have the liberty to apply to the High Court for an order under Section 10 (4) of the TDP Act.
   Following the Rulings of Trade Dispute Panel on the 19/08/2020 members of our two Associations on our meeting on the 20th/08/2020 requested SINU Management and Council to honor the rulings and take appropriate steps to implement the rulings. This therefore requires that the following actions be immediately addressed;

Ruling 1: that all staff suspended, terminated or contracts not renewed be re-instated to their job by Monday the 24th/08/2020
Ruling 3: that Council immediately suspend the VC
Ruling 4: that due to VC’s involvement, the Independent Audit Report perceived to be an investigation must be nullified
Our two Associations will observe Ruling 2 in that we will call off the strike notice in keeping with the Rulings by the Trade Dispute Panel and the Law of the Land. However, we will not hesitate to re-activate the strike notice and withdraw our full service on or after the 25th August 2020 if the SINU Management and Council fail to honour its part of the ruling. This is the opportunity we should seize to resolve this impasse.

As of the date of the ruling by TDP, none of the orders have been actioned or seen to be actioned by SINU mgt. Instead, it would appear in their Press Release that SINU mgt has become another Court in itself, making its own interpretation of the orders when it supposed to adhere to the orders. Isn’t this a contempt of court; the law of the land; what the SINU mgt is so fervent about? So, who is breaking the law here, one wonders? Perhaps, it might interest the public that the person at the centre of this impasse, is an alien in the country. The Chair of the Council and the SINU mgt including the VC himself were served with the notices by the Labour Division, that he (the VC) is working illegally in the country as he has no work permit. In normal cases, the VC should be suspended or side-lined while appropriate steps are taken to rectify the situation. Instead the SINU mgt turns a blind eye on such a serious matter; a serious breach of our law. Isn’t it hypocritical to remind others to abide by the law of the land while the SINU mgt acts in the opposite?

Our two Associations wish to assure students, parents and stakeholders that WE place the highest regard to your education

such a serious matter; a serious breach of our law. Isn’t it hypocritical to remind others to abide by the law of the land while the SINU mgt acts in the opposite?

Our two Associations wish to assure students, parents and stakeholders that WE place the highest regard to your education or education of your children. This is our country and your future is very important to us.
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