By Agustine Oduor
University lecturers and allied workers have rejected the cabinet proposal that they return to work terming it a lazy decision.
The workers said the will not honour the Government directive and laughed off the negotiations to be led by a cabinet sub committee.
“We issued a strike notice long ago. They had all the time to make these decisions but they kept off. Even after the strike was on the finance minister still managed to snob two consecutive meetings,” said University Academic Staff union ( Uasu) secretary general Muga K’Olale.
He also said the unions are aware of attempts by higher education minister Margaret Kamar to trivialize negotiations aimed at resolving the stalemate.
“After a meeting this morning, we have decided to reject a cabinet proposal to call off strike until we engage in meaningful talks,” he said.
Universities Non-Teaching Staff Union (Untensu) secretary general Charles Mukhwaya said the workers have been angered the more and decided to “reload the strike.”
“We can not take a cabinet sub committee that has no terms of reference or even a time frame. We are not blind to the fact that they are employing delaying tactics,” he said.
The Cabinet sub-committee begins work today under the chairmanship of Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno, and will include Ministers John Munyes (Labour), Mutula Kilonzo (Education), Margaret Kamar (Higher Education), Anyang’ Nyongo (Medical Services), Njeru Githae (Finance), and Attorney General Githu Muigai.
The sub-committee is supposed to come up with a solution to the industrial unrests by the teachers, doctors, and university lecturers.
K’Olale said referring talks to salaries and Remuneration Commission is not a legitimate attempt to send lecturers back to work.
“We want lawful negotiations. SRC does not engage with unions. They advise the Government not unions,” he said.
