Public University Lecturers End Strike After 10 Percent Salary Increase.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) ended their lecturers’ strike following discussions with the inter-ministerial committee on Thursday.
The decision was reached after Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary, Alfred Mutua, led negotiations between the committee and representatives from UASU and KUSU.
The strike, which began on September 18, was a response to delays in finalizing the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). An inter-ministerial committee was formed to resolve the impasse between the lecturers and the government.
Agreement Terms and Withdrawal of Legal Action
UASU confirmed that the strike would immediately cease once the agreement was executed. As part of the settlement, the employer would withdraw unconditionally from Employment and Labour Relations Cause Number E780 of 2024, with both parties bearing their own costs.
The union assured that no UASU member would face any disciplinary action or victimisation for taking part in the industrial action.
Labour Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Alfred Mutua, announced the resolution in a statement on X. He explained that the agreement followed lengthy discussions with key stakeholders, including various labour unions such as the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), held at the ministry’s headquarters.
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Also present were representatives from the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA).
The strike, which had disrupted learning in public universities for two weeks, was officially called off following the successful negotiations. The return-to-work formula guaranteed no victimization for union members involved in the strike.
Return-to-Work Formula
A return-to-work formula was agreed upon, ensuring that lecturers would collaborate with their respective universities to recover the learning time lost due to the strike, which began on September 18.
UASU stated that employees in public universities and their constituent colleges would work closely with their employers to develop a viable plan to make up for the missed teaching sessions.
UASU demanded immediate salary adjustments, specifying that Grades 13A, 14A, and 15A would receive a 7% increase, while Grades 10A, 11A, and 12A would receive a 10% raise as advised by the Government through the Inter-Ministerial Committee.
The Inter-Public Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) and UASU are scheduled to meet on September 27 to review salary scales for the Financial Year 2023/2025. The adjustments will be reflected in the October 2024 salaries.
Additionally, the union confirmed that the Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) for the 2021-2025 cycle would cover the last two years starting July 1, 2023.
Salary and Retirement Age Revisions
Under the new agreement, universities will begin implementing an enhanced basic monthly salary, with increases ranging between 7% and 10%.
Additionally, there will be an automatic annual increment of 4% on the basic salary throughout the CBA cycle, covering the period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025.
Further terms of the deal included harmonizing the retirement age for academic staff. Graduate assistants, tutorial fellows, and assistant lecturers will now retire at 70 years.
Similarly, KUSU members, including non-academic staff such as those working in teaching labs and university libraries, will receive a 7% to 10% salary increase. Their retirement age has been standardized at 65 years.
Key Representatives and Strike Escalation
Both UASU Secretary General, Constantine Wasonga, and KUSU Secretary General, Charles Mukhwaya, were present at the inter-ministerial meeting that led to the resolution.
Earlier, on September 19, the Employment and Labour Relations Court had suspended the strike, but union representatives remained firm in their stance, continuing the industrial action until their demands were addressed.
Their main grievances included demands for better salaries, improved medical cover, and equalized allowances for all university workers across Kenya.
For KUDHEIHA members, who are also represented in universities, a 10% salary increment was secured. This was described as a significant victory for their members.
Mutua also assured labour unions that mechanisms will be established to address staff grievances before they escalate into industrial action.
As part of this effort, an inter-ministerial committee will be formed to address unresolved issues. The committee is set to meet for a month starting October 1, 2024.
Protest in Nairobi’s CBD
On September 23, lecturers marched peacefully through Nairobi’s central business district (CBD), heading towards Parliament to present their demands.
However, the situation turned chaotic when security forces intervened, dispersing the protesters with teargas. Some individuals were arrested, although no casualties were reported.
Public University Lecturers End Strike After 10 Percent Salary Increase.
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