Learning in public universities across the country could to be disrupted after lecturers announced a nationwide strike that will start from toady over what they termed as failure by the government to honour their demands.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) had issued a seven-day strike notice, which expires today, following unresolved disputes with the government regarding the implementation of a return-to-work formula agreed upon during negotiations on September 26.
“I want to tell UASU members, just work today up to midnight, after which you should down your tools,’’ the UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga urged.
“If you have given a member seven per cent it will show, we are not dealing with illiterate people who don’t know how to calculate 7 and 4 percent so you cannot cheat them. You want UASU officials to be part of that manipulation, that one we will not do,’’ he added.
The union disclosed that they had been engaging the government to sign a return to work formula and the last attempt to reach an agreement failed during a meeting held on September 26.
This came despite recent government attempts to convince the dons to return to class with a promise of advancing the negotiations to a ministerial level.
On September 25, Cabinet Secretary for Labour Alfred Mutua announced that he had escalated the negotiations to include representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Education as well as those from the Treasury to help the two sides reach a deal.
However, Speaking separately to People Daily Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) Secretary- General Charles Mukhwaya said his union has not called for industrial action since they are still in talks with the government.
Mukhwaya said the government has shown goodwill towards addressing their key concerns including the 7-10 percent salary increase which they have been agitating for.
“ We are actually edging closer towards striking a deal. We are in talks with the government and I can confidently say that they have shown goodwill towards our demands. We will only call for a strike if we reach the rock bottom but as we speak we are still progressing well with the talks,” he said.
Mukhwaya said the government has also promised to address issues like implementation of a comprehensive medical cover, mortgage and over retirement benefits.
On their part UASU has been protesting failure by the government to implement the proposed 2021/25 Collective Bargaining agreement CBA.
“History shows that none of our CBAs has ever been fulfilled without numerous strikes. We are ready to go on the streets again,” said Dr Wesonga.
UASU is demanding that the lowest paid lecturer to earn a basic salary of Sh99,650 with the highest expected to earn Sh338,146.
