Strike eases as universities get Sh2.1 billion

UASU members led by Secretary General Constine Wesonga and National chairman Muga K'olale during a press briefing in Kisumu on November 15, 2017 where they stated that the lectures strike is still on until their demands are met. (Collins Oduor, Standard)

Public universities have received part of the Sh5.2 billion to offset striking university workers’ pay demand.

The Saturday Standard established that some Sh2.1 billion was released yesterday to cater for all salary arrears for the past five months starting July.

The remaining Sh3.1 billion will be released on a monthly basis, as each university will get enhanced capitation to implement new salary rates.

This means from end of this month, all university workers will get their pay adjusted to the new salary brackets as negotiated under the Sh10 billion 2013-2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) officials have maintained that the Sh10 billion released after the CBA negotiation only paid areas accumulated over the years.

Uasu secretary general Constantine Wasonga said each worker’s salary were to reflect the adjusted upper brackets from July.

“This never happened. In fact only five universities honoured this deal. The rest defaulted,” said Wasonga.

Under the signed CBA, the lowest paid assistant lecturer is scheduled to earn a basic pay of Sh82,037 from the current Sh69,794.

The highest paid assistant lecturer who currently earns Sh99,642 will now earn Sh117,121.

The lowest paid lecturer who earns Sh83,361 per month will earn Sh97,984, as the highest paid lecturer takes home Sh139,711 up from Sh118, 861.

A senior lecturer who earns Sh94, 215 will earn Sh110, 742 per month while the highest paid senior lecturer will earn Sh158, 967 from the current Sh135, 243.

The least paid associate professors who takes home Sh122, 956 is expected to get Sh144, 524.

The highest bracket under this category will move from Sh172, 960 to Sh203, 300 per month.

Professors will earn up to Sh248, 898. Their current pay is Sh211, 753 per month.

Finer details

The Government authorised release of Sh5.2 billion to settle the salary deal of all striking staff.

A letter by National Treasury Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge says the release of the money will end the strike.

“To avert the ongoing strike by the universities, staff approval has been granted to spend Sh5.2 billion to enable payment of enhanced salaries and allowances to university staffs based on the 2013-2017 pending regularisation of the same in supplementary estimates for 2017/18 financial year,” reads the letter.

The letter is dated November 6.

Ministry of Education said the National Treasury is working on a payment method for all staff.

Finer details on workers payment reveals that these new salary rates will be paid by end of this month.

However for now, all universities will only pay out the Sh2.1 billion to all workers to settle all arrears dating five months back.

The Saturday Standard has obtained a detailed payment plan for both disbursements. (See table)

University of Nairobi will receive the highest amount of Sh960 million once all the monies are paid as Garissa University gets the lowest amount of Sh20 million.

However under the first phase of payment of the Sh2.1 billion, University of Nairobi will still get the highest amount of Sh400 million. And Garissa University will also still get the least money of Sh8.3 million.

Uasu officials’ however maintained that they will not call off strike until all their demands are met.

“As we indicated, we have irreducible minimums. Payment of basic salaries increment and house allowances, completion of internal CBAs and jumpstarting the new 2017-2021 CBA,” said Wasonga.

The union National Executive Council (NEC) meeting this week resolved that all the issues in dispute must be resolved before strike is called off.

“Show us where the Sh5.3 billion is, kick start negotiations for the 2017-2021 CBA and settle all internal CBAs and we shall call off strike,” said Wasonga.

The union this week fought attempts to split the top leadership to call off strike.

National chairman Muga K’Olale and vice chairman Prof Muturi Mberia said the union was firmly united behind the Secretary General.