Varsity lecturers call off strike

Labour minister John Munyes (centre standing), ministry officials, university chiefs, Uasu, Untesu and FKE officials in Nairobi on September 20, 2012. Graft busters have been invited to investigate the alleged misappropriation of Sh7.8 billion public universities lecturers’ payroll. File/Photo

What you need to know:

Students riot in city over boycott

  • University of Nairobi students on Thursday took to the streets to protest against the lecturers’ strike.
  • As talks between lecturers and the government were going on at Jogoo House, the students were hurling stones at motorists and looting shops.
  • The students blocked Uhuru Highway and University Way causing a major traffic congestion for over three hours.
  • “We are asking the government to intervene and put a stop to the lecturers’ strike,” said a student at the institution, who claimed criminals had invaded their peaceful demonstration.
    — YVONNE KAWIRA

Lecturers on Thursday called off their strike after they signed a new deal that raised their salaries by 33 per cent. Read (Govt offers varsity workers Sh7.8bn to end strike)

Learning in all public universities is expected to resume on Friday following the agreement of a return-to-work formula and a Comprehensive Bargaining Agreement by the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu), University Non-Teaching Staff Union (Untesu) and the University Council.

Uasu and Untesu settled for a 33.1 per cent increase of their basic salary and 14.27 per cent increase on their house allowance.

The money will be paid in two phases dating back to July 1, 2010 and will run until July 1, 2013.

Speaking during the signing of the two documents, Labour minister John Munyes called on Kenya Post Primary Union of Teachers (Kuppet) and Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) to also call off their strike.

“I urge Kuppet and Knut to borrow a leaf from the lecturers. They need to consider the interest of the Kenyan child and end their strike,” said Mr Munyes.  

The agreement compels the university council to withdraw from court all matters relating to the CBA.

It also calls for the immediate reinstatement of all suspended staff who took part in the November 2011 and September 2012 strike.

It further shields the striking lecturers and workers from victimisation by the university senate.

Uasu secretary-general Muga K’Olale said the strike was a lesson to the government to stop ignoring the plight of workers.

“The strike is a lesson to the current and future government, public universities and stakeholders that the rights of workers should not be ignored,” said Prof K’Olale.

Earlier, Higher Education minister Margaret Kamar announced that the university workers had been offered Sh7.8 billion to be paid out in two phases, starting January next year.

Prof Kamar made the announcement at her Jogoo House office when she asked the striking workers to return to work.  

“The negotiations moved very well. We finished discussing late last night and agreed that the grievances were justified. We need to sort out the backlog of salaries for 2011-2012 and 2013,” Prof Kamar said.

The university workers went on strike two weeks ago demanding that the government clears up the previous collective bargaining agreements.

Prof Kamar said that after the government honoured the current negotiations, all other agreements would last four years and should be facilitated by the Salaries and Remuneration Committee.

This, Prof Kamar said, would reduce cases of strikes in universities.

“We cannot afford to lose any more time especially when we are rolling out the double intake programmes to meet the growing number of students in public universities,” she said.

Additional reporting by Benjamin Muindi and Rose Kamanga