By Stephen Makabila
The Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) has rejected a counter-proposal by the Inter-Public University Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) in the negotiations for a 2008/2010 collective bargaining agreement.
A copy of the IPUCCF counter proposal acquired by The Standard shows the more than 5,000 lecturers in the seven public universities had been offered a Sh2,000 pay increase across the board.
The Uasu leadership, which tabled its earlier proposal giving the highest ranked (professor) Sh576,000 pay per month, up from the current maximum of Sh204,000 and the lowest ranked (graduate assistant) Sh134,550 per month from the current maximum of Sh63,665, has rejected the forum’s proposal and demanded for a review.
Uasu also wants an associate professor paid Sh432,000, a senior lecturer Sh321,600, a lecturer Sh302,400, an assistant lecturer Sh230,400 and graduate assistant Sh134,550 monthly.
"We told the IPUCCF they have to review their offer to lecturers. Uasu is ready for peaceful negotiation. But what they tabled is an insult to lecturers," said the Uasu national chairman Sammy Kubasu, when contacted.
Dr Kubasu added: "We should negotiate in good faith, mutual respect and within good labour practice and law."
The pay negotiations started on February 16.
The two teams have met twice. The third meeting is scheduled for March 17 at Kenyatta University.
Vice-Chancellors of the seven public universities attended the first meeting in Nakuru.
Prof Peter Mbithi of University of Nairobi heads the IPUCCF negotiation team while the Uasu team is headed by its national trustee, Mutuuria Mberia.
The counter proposal wants a professor to earn a maximum of Sh214,200 up from Sh204,000, an associate professor a maximum of Sh170,000 up from Sh162,000, and a senior lecturer a maximum of Sh141,120 up from Sh134,400.
And, a lecturer is to earn not more than Sh126,630 up from the current Sh120,600, an assistant lecturer Sh115,247 up from the current Sh109,759 while a graduate assistant a gets not more than Sh66,848 up from the current Sh63,665.
Kubasu said Uasu was hopeful the forum would present a fairer counter proposal when they next meet.
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