Lecturers pick October 12 for strike over pay dispute

By Allan kisia

University lecturers will issue a strike notice tomorrow unless the Government honours the pay agreement signed in June.

The Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) secretary-general Muga K’Olale said the 21-day edict would be sent to Labour and Higher Education ministries and vice-chancellors of public universities.

"On October 12, all public universities should close because no lecturer will be discharging their duties," he added.

K’Olale spoke at the end of a delegates conference at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kakamega on Friday.

K’Olale accused the Government of reneging on the deal that awarded them 15 per cent basic pay hike and 7.5 per cent house allowance.

"It has been two months now and we are yet to receive any form of communication from the Government," he said.

He added that lecturers will not accept partial implementation of the agreement.

The increment was part of the collective bargaining agreement between Uasu and the Inter-Public University Councils Consultative Forum. It was supposed to be implemented on July 1, and back-dated to July last year.