The newly elected Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) National Secretary General Wasonga Opiyo says the UASU members are likely to down tools by September 2016 if the government fails to implement what they had bargained for/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 23 – Lectures of Public Universities have threatened to go on strike if their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 2013-2017 is not implemented.
The newly elected Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) National Secretary General Wasonga Opiyo says the UASU members are likely to down tools by September 2016 if the government fails to implement what they had bargained for.
Opiyo says university dons must be remunerated as per their excellence and wondered why Members of County Assemblies are drawing huge salaries compared to the dons.
“If the government does not cooperate in September there will be no classes in public universities,” he stated.
Opiyo who was elected as new National Secretary General of the association on Friday says this will be his top agenda.
He says he will also foster the review of a directive by the Commission for University Education that requires university dons to have PHDs by 2018.
He says the order needs further consultations between the Union and the Commission noting that university dons have much work loads and are not able to conform to the directive.
“It is not possible, because these dons are overworked and are not sponsored,” he explained.
Opiyo also weighed into the ongoing school unrest and called upon the ministry of education to seek for guidance from the university dons.
He urged school principals to give room for dialogue in schools and address grievances of students.
During the elections, Mutirio Mberia was elected Vice Chairman, Deputy Secretary General went to Kisi Malea, Treasurer Jennifer Kumba, Deputy Treasurer Ratemo Nyaribo and Organizing Secretary Rugara Mwika.
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