University Lecturers Issue Strike Notice Over Return-to-Work Agreement.
Lecturers from public universities have issued a seven-day strike notice after failing to reach an agreement with the government on implementing a return-to-work formula. The formula, signed just a month ago, followed a previous strike that called for better pay.
The potential strike could further disrupt learning in public universities, which were already affected by a go-slow in September.
During that period, members of the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu), the Kenya University Staff Union, and the Kenya Union of Domestic Hotels Educational Institutions Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha) participated in a strike that halted university operations.
The unions and the government have been in talks, but Uasu Secretary-General Dr. Constantine Wasonga informed union members that they could not agree on the return-to-work formula signed on September 26, 2024.
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The unions wanted the agreement to be implemented as signed and as recommended by the technical committee, but the government introduced a global figure of Sh4.3 billion, not included in the formula, to cover a two-year period.
Due to this disagreement, Wasonga formally issued a seven-day strike notice.
Unions’ Strike Threat
The unions had previously warned the government that if the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was not honoured, they would strike again. According to their calculations, implementing the agreement requires Sh9 billion, more than double the government’s proposed amount.
The unions warned that if the CBA was not honoured by the following Tuesday, they would take to the streets.
In a letter addressed to the councils of 35 public universities and three constituent colleges, Dr. Wasonga confirmed that the strike notice would take effect from October 22, 2024.
He cited the failure of the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) to negotiate, conclude, register, and implement CBAs for the cycles 2013–2017, 2017–2021, and 2021–2025.
However, Kenya Universities Staff Union Secretary-General Charles Mukhwaya noted that further talks were scheduled.
He explained that the union had not yet issued a strike notice as they were waiting for a formal communication after another meeting with the government, which was scheduled for September 23, 2024.
Mukhwaya expressed hope that the upcoming talks could resolve the impasse.
Return-to-Work Formula Agreement
After signing the return-to-work formula, the unions formed a team of eight members to work on the pay scale tabulations for various job grades.
The team was tasked with submitting the report to the inter-ministerial committee for approval, ensuring that the backdated salary adjustments would reflect in the October paychecks.
The agreement, brokered by Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua, outlined salary increments for specific job grades.
Under the agreement, staff in job grades 13A, 14A, and 15A would receive a 7% increase in their basic salary, while those in grades 10A, 11A, and 12A would get a 10% rise.
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Additionally, staff would benefit from an automatic annual increment of 4% of their basic salary for the two years of the CBA cycle, starting from July 1, 2023.
| Job Grades | Salary Increase | Annual Increment | CBA Cycle Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13A, 14A, 15A | 7% | 4% | July 1, 2023 |
| 10A, 11A, 12A | 10% | 4% | July 1, 2023 |
Retirement Age and Other Benefits
The agreement also harmonised the retirement age for university staff. Graduate assistants, tutorial fellows, and assistant lecturers would retire at 70, while senior lecturers, associate professors, and professors would retire at 74.
Additionally, the unions and the government agreed on frameworks for car loans and mortgage schemes. Pending issues such as the harmonisation of allowances, medical cover, and promotions were to be addressed within the next month.
University Lecturers Issue Strike Notice Over Return-to-Work Agreement.
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