University Unions Strike Looming as Talks with Government Collapse

University Unions Strike Looming as Talks with Government Collapse.

Efforts to prevent a nationwide strike by university lecturers and non-teaching staff have collapsed, paving the way for industrial action starting at midnight. This strike is expected to halt university operations and exacerbate the challenges facing the higher education sector.

The University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu) have called for the strike, following student protests against the higher education funding model. The students’ strike ended just a week ago after government intervention.

Uasu and Kusu had issued a strike notice on September 11, 2024. In response, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Ogamba, invited the unions to a meeting on September 16, but the talks ended in a deadlock.

Kusu Secretary-General, Dr. Charles Mukhwaya, explained that after consulting union members, they concluded that waiting for more negotiations was unfeasible.

The unions believe it’s impossible to maintain the current pay in the prevailing economic conditions, where the cost of living has increased, diminishing purchasing power.

Uasu Secretary-General, Dr. Constantine Wasonga, stated that lecturers are prepared for a prolonged strike until their demands for better pay are met.

Dr. Wasonga further mentioned that Labour Cabinet Secretary, Alfred Mutua, contacted him after the meeting with Mr. Ogamba, but the unions would only engage after starting the strike.

The union officials plan to launch the strike at various campuses, with the national launch at the Technical University of Kenya at 10:00 am. The unions also intend to hold a major demonstration in Nairobi the following Monday.

Meeting at Jogoo House

The meeting held at Jogoo House included key officials like the Principal Secretary for Higher Education, Beatrice Inyangala, and representatives from the Vice Chancellors of Public Universities Committee and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum.

Union officials attending the meeting reported that the government requested a withdrawal of the strike notice to address their concerns. However, union members were unwilling to comply unless the government agreed to sign a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) by midnight.

The primary issue in the dispute is the proposed 2021-2025 CBA, which the unions have been waiting to negotiate for three years.

Despite submitting a demand proposal in 2020, no progress has been made. Even when the government finally responded in 2023, their counter-proposal offered no tangible improvements.

Union leaders expressed frustration with the lack of progress, stressing that, at the very least, the government should cushion workers in the current economic climate if salary increments are not feasible.

During the meeting with Mr. Ogamba, the unions requested a salary increment similar to the 7-10% rise given to other government workers in the previous year.

They proposed a system where workers in lower job grades would receive the higher percentage increase, while those in higher grades would receive the least.

However, Mr. Ogamba suggested a consultation with other relevant departments and proposed a 3.5% increment across all job categories.

History of CBAs and Strike Plans

Uasu’s National Organising Secretary, Onesmus Mutio, remarked that previous CBAs have always been accompanied by strikes. He predicted three separate strikes: one to negotiate the CBA, another to register it in court, and a final one to implement it. The unions are prepared for these strikes.

In their 2020 demand, Uasu sought an increase in the monthly basic salary for the lowest-paid lecturer (graduate assistant or tutorial fellow) to Sh99,650 and for the highest-paid professor to Sh338,146.

However, the current basic salary stands at Sh57,729 for the lowest-paid lecturer and Sh209,694 for the highest-paid professor, excluding allowances.

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If the CBA is successfully concluded in 2025, the lowest-paid lecturer would earn Sh145,702, while the highest-paid professor would receive Sh494,415 in basic salary.

The Ministry of Labour’s attempt to mediate between the unions and the government through the appointed conciliator, R.A.O. Litaba, failed to resolve the dispute, leading to the impending strike.

University Unions Strike Looming as Talks with Government Collapse.

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