Learning to be paralysed as varsity workers issue strike notice

L-R - UASU National Chairman Muga Kolale, Dr. Constatine Wasonga Secretary General UASU & KUSU Secretary General Dr. Charles Mukhwaya. PHOTO:WILBERFORCE OKWIRI

Learning in 31 public universities is set to be paralysed again this year after unions issued a 21-day strike notice.

The secretary general of the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu), Constantine Wasonga, said the industrial action would kick off on October 31.

In a letter to all the university council chairpersons dated October 3, Mr Wasonga said the strike was prompted by the failure to implement basic salary and house allowance, as negotiated by the unions.

“We will protest the blatant violation of the university workers fundamental rights and freedoms under Article 41 and Chapter 4 of the Constitution of Kenya,” reads the letter.

Unions negotiated a Sh10 billion salary increment, which was partially honoured by the Government.

University administrations have failed to move workers' salary brackets to the new rates as envisaged under the 2013-2017 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

Uasu said all its members in public universities and constituent colleges would withdraw their services and not resume duty until the deal is fully implemented.

If the CBA is implemented fully, as demanded by the union, the lowest paid assistant lecturer who currently earns Sh69,794 would move up to Sh82,037.

The highest paid assistant lecturer currently taking home Sh99,642 is expected to earn Sh117,121. The lowest paid lecturer who earns Sh83,361 per month is supposed to get Sh97,984.

The chairman of the Inter-Public Universities Council Consultative Forum, Paul Kanyari, in a letter dated August 29, said adjusting the new salaries was untenable.