Secretary General Constantine Wasonga journalists the strike has been necessitated by the government’s failure to implement the CBA. The CBA’s implementation was set to commence in November 2019/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 9 – The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Thursday issued a 7-day strike notice over an unfulfilled 2017/2020 Collective Bargain Agreement signed in October 2019.
Secretary General Constantine Wasonga journalists the strike has been necessitated by the government’s failure to implement the CBA. The CBA’s implementation was set to commence in November 2019.
“We shook hands and agreed it will be implemented on or before 30th November last year, up to today the Inter-Public Universities Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) have not given a reason why it has not been implemented,” he said.
Wasonga said no lecturer will facilitate teaching in public universities after January 20 when the industrial action will commence should IPUCCF fail to heed the call to implement new pay perks as agreed.
Muga K’Olale , UASU Chairperson echoed they will not renegotiate the CBA and expect 8.8 billion.
“It is our understanding that the money allocated has been diverted for other purposes that it was not meant for,” he said
K’Olale emphasized this has put workers in an awkward position thus they will withdraw their labor.
According to UASU, the amount owed revealed that the institutions owe lecturers Sh13.8 billion, but the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) caps the figure at Sh8.8 billion.
UASU SG then maintained the CBA figures are inaccurate and demanded that IPUCCF and SRC correct the anomaly.
Wasonga Thursday insisted SRC had approved the CBA in its current form and vowed not to renegotiate.
“We have made it clear if they don’t honour our CBA as was initially agreed and releases the full amount of Sh13.8 billion then we ells all union officials not to meet anybody if they are not assigned will withdraw our labor,” he stated.
not to meet anybody if they are not assigned or notified the union.
Under the CBA signed in October, university staff are expected to get a salary increment of between 5.75 to 6.27 per cent annually for the period of 2017-2021.
The new basic salary structure covers a four-year CBA for the period 2017-2021 and is aligned with implementation of job evaluation results for public universities.
“We have made it clear if they don’t honour our CBA as was initially agreed and releases the full amount of Sh13.8 billion then we ells all union officials not to meet anybody if they are not assigned will withdraw our labor,” Wasonga stated.
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