Why varsity workers called off their strike

University lecturers demonstrate in the streets of Nairobi last week to push for better pay. (Photo: Edward Kiplimo/Standard)

The fear of missing their July salaries and risk of losing the Sh5.2 billion the Government had offered forced university workers to call off their strike.

The Standard established further negotiations to push for immediate release of the cash the Government has committed to pay by July 30 stalled, and authorities threatened to close down public universities.

Sources said unions were told, during a Monday meeting, universities would be asked to close down until after elections, if they failed to end the strike.

“This meant they would not get July salaries and that after elections, there would be no guarantee anyone would listen to them,” said an insider who attended Monday’s meeting.

Pay deal

Last week, Treasury had authorised release of Sh5.2 billion to settle the remainder of the pay deal.

And Tuesday, officials of the three unions unanimously called off the strike and urged their members to resume work today.

This came just two hours before Higher Education PS Collette Suda confirmed the money had been wired to university accounts.

“This is to inform you we have wired the second tranche for the 2013-207 CBA for each university as per attached schedule distributed accordingly which will be reflected in their respective bank accounts latest tomorrow in the afternoon,” said Prof Suda.

The State signed a Sh10 billion Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu).

Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions Hospital and Allied, workers are also set to benefit from the deal.

Only Sh4.8 billion was released to the universities to benefit the 27, 798 workers of the three unions.

Prof Suda wrote to universities, through the Inter Public Universities Council Consultative Forum that, the money will be paid this month.

“I am pleased to inform you Treasury has granted authority to the ministry to incur the expenditure of Sh5.2 billion towards this course,” said Suda in a letter dated July 13.

But the union officials maintained the strike would be on until the full balance hits their accounts.

Council meetings

Pushed to the wall, officials of the three unions called their National Executive Council meetings and agreed to call off strike.

“Kenya University Staff Union will call off the strike with immediate effect,” said Charles Mukhwaya, its secretary general.

He said: “Payment of Sh5.2 billion, being balance of amount due in respect of the 2013-2017 CBA, shall be effected to members of all unions in public universities and their constituent university colleges on or before July 31.”

It emerged Treasury committed to pay by the said date. That means members of staff may get the money starting August 1.

Suda had said the balance would be wired to universities once the Government finance management system was ready.