State offers striking varsity staff Sh10bn to return to work

Public University staff failed to agree with the government on a Sh10 billion offer meant to end their strike.

Lecturers’ union declared it will reject any scheme that does not secure the terms and conditions of service for all its members.

“As at today (Thursday), Uasu has neither accepted nor rejected the proposal,” University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) secretary-general Constantine Wasonga, said.

The stalemate saw the strike enter its 22nd day as learning remained paralysed in all the 33 public universities and their constituent colleges.

Dr Wasonga said the union would not rest and lecturers will keep out of class until their proposed 2013-2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is agreed upon.

The government, through the Inter-Public Universities Council Consultative Forum, had on Wednesday described the offer as the best, covering the period 2014-2017.

But according to Dr Wasonga, the forum did not table any written communication from the government regarding its commitment to the Sh10 billion offer, making it very difficult for university staff to believe the offer.

Besides the forum and Uasu, other parties involved in the pay talks are the Kenya University Staff Union and the Kenya Union of Domestic Hostels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied workers.

They have been meeting since Wednesday to find a solution which will see lectures resume duty.

The Joint technical committee agreed to continue their negotiations on Friday to evaluate the offer.

Dr Wasonga said they will also discuss the counter-offer in regard to terms and conditions of service for varsity employees.

He said the team agreed to compute the effect of the government’s proposal on basic salaries and house allowances.

According to Uasu, the proposal by the government was not enough, as it would not bring a significant change in their payslip.