EDUCATION: University Lecturers Call Off Strike After Three Weeks
On Saturday, November 23, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) called off the lecturer’s strike, which has been disrupting university operations across the country since September.
The decision to call off the strike came after the government pledged to fulfill the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which was previously valued at Ksh9.76 billion.
The National Treasury agreed to allocate Ksh4.3 billion under Supplementary Estimates II to cover the implementation of the 2021-20 CBA in the fiscal year 2024/2025.
The parties involved agreed to abandon all legal petitions filed to block the lecturer’s strike. The professors’ representative promised to make up for lost time.
University lecturers call off strike as government unveils Ksh.9.7 billion for 2021-2025 CBA pic.twitter.com/vFF0VMdSXb
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) November 23, 2024
The latest initiative to terminate the teachers’ strike comes only days after the National Assembly Committee on Education met with officials from UASU, the Inter-Public Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), and the Inter-Ministerial Committee.
The lecturers’ union had refused to return to work unless the government announced its intention to pay the academics the remaining Ksh5.46 billion.
UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga revealed during the Thursday midday meeting that the union is willing to take the initial sum if the government agrees to a clear payment plan for the remaining Ksh5.46 billion over the following two fiscal years.
“UASU agrees to take Ksh4.3 billion immediately but the government must agree to pay the balance,” said Wasonga.
“In 2025/26 we will be paid half of Ksh5.4 billion and in 2026/27 the remaining half. We must agree on how to negotiate other items on the Return to Work Formula.”
Tinderet MP Julius Melly emphasized the importance of restoring order in campuses throughout the conference.
“Students are waiting to graduate and parents have paid fees. It’s time for parties to compromise for the sake of our education system,” he said.
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While commenting on the subject, Nyamira MP Jerusha Momanyi encouraged the government to make a written promise to clear the balance, as well as to ensure future payments from the Treasury and related ministries.
“This is the fourth meeting on this matter. We need to come up with some level of compromise,” she noted.
“Now that we have Kshs 4.3 billion on the table the Ministry of Education and Labour should commit on how to clear the balance.”
On September 18, lecturers went on strike in response to failed talks between the government and their representatives. As the walkout grew more intense, most institutions were obliged to release students.
EDUCATION: University Lecturers Call Off Strike After Three Weeks
