Lecturers Walk Out Of Meeting With MPs After Ksh4.3 Billion Offer, Strike Continues
The meeting between lecturers and Members of Parliament scheduled for Tuesday to resolve the pay dispute failed to begin, putting any hopes of ending the strike on hold.
Learning in public universities has been halted after lecturers went on strike to demand higher pay, causing students’ graduation plans to fall apart. The strike has begun its second week.
The meeting was canceled because the Interpublic Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) did not provide documents approving a Ksh4.3 billion offer to university dons under the UASU banner.
UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga stated that the Union will reject the verbal offer of Ksh4.3 billion against the Ksh9.7 billion outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in September 2024.
“The union wishes to be shown how the CBA has been implemented. We are requesting that let us not deviate from how we have been implementing our CBAs by bringing in new parameters,” Constantine maintained.
Wasonga spoke at a meeting of the National Assembly Educational Committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly.
Professor Fred Simiyu Barasa, Chairman of the IPUCCF Joint Negotiation Committee, revealed that they can use the letter to continue the meeting.
“We can undertake to go and ask for that letter and come back to report because up to where we are there has never been any written document of ksh4.3 Billion,” Simiyu revealed.
Following the dispute, Julius Melly, chairman of the National Assembly Committee, directed that the union and committee meet next week once all documents were available.
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To avoid future disputes, he advised the Union to carefully review any agreements before signing them.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has accused the government of undermining the Return to Work agreement, which saw lecturers call off their strike in September.
“Don’t scare us; we can teach anywhere in the world!” Constantine Wasonga, University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Sec. Gen says as the lecturers' strike commences pic.twitter.com/k3gaie5id7
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) October 29, 2024
When the lecturers agreed to call off their initial industrial action, the government agreed to expedite the full implementation of the Return-To-Work Formula (RTWF), which they refused, prompting the lecturers to return to the streets.
Dr. Wekesa reiterated that the lecturers have vowed to remain off campus until their dues are paid.
Lecturers Walk Out Of Meeting With MPs After Ksh4.3 Billion Offer, Strike Continues
