We're ready for talks with govt, Uasu officials say
Workers and lecturers from Technical University of Mombasa demonstrate at Garden Square in Mombasa on January 19, 2017. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Lecturers and other public university workers are on strike demanding conclusion of agreement for 2013-2017 cycle presented four years ago.
- Speaking while officially launching the strike at Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology, University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) secretary-general Constantine Wesonga said they are ready to negotiate with the government while their union workers are at home.
Officials of a union representing university lecturers on Friday said they are ready to negotiate with the government to end their nationwide strike that started on Thursday.
Speaking while officially launching the strike at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) secretary-general Constantine Wesonga said they are ready for talks while their members are at home.
Mr Wesonga said the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) "is not a sincere group".
"They have taken us round for the last four years and what we are saying is we want serious negotiations so that workers in public universities can enjoy what is rightfully theirs. We are going to strike for as long as it takes," he said.
Wesonga said university workers have since 2008 being forced to resort to industrial action to bargain for better working conditions, saying that is a culture that must end.
'INADEQUATE' OFFER
Uasu national vice-chairman Joseph Mberia said that since the creation of the union in 2003, the government only raised lecturers' salaries after they had gone on strike. He dismissed IPUCCF's three per cent pay rise offer as inadequate.
"What is three per cent to people who have had no pay increase in the last four years? This strike will go on for as long as it takes. Three per cent of 10,000 is only 300, which cannot buy even a half a kilo of meat," Mr Mberia added.
He said Uasu members will remain on strike for as long as it takes even if it forces the government to close down public universities.
On court matters, the unionists said they had not been served with any orders barring the strike.
Mberia, however, urged lecturers to hold peaceful demos but paralyse learning and normal activities at all public universities.
"There's is no returning to work until a return-to-work formula is negotiated. Be peaceful and avoid destruction but withdraw your labour. Also walk with your ATM cards so that when the cash gets in, we can declare the strike off," he told the members.
