Court cases derail bid to resolve lecturers strike
University Academic Staff Union and Kenya University Staff Union members in a procession over their CBA. A meeting scheduled for yesterday to end the strike failed. PHOTO | ANDREW KILONZI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Lecturers were required to withdraw a case on job evaluation and an appeal challenging the alleged illegality of their strike.
Many students and parents had hoped that the talks would end the strike that has paralysed learning in universities.
Monday, Uasu and the universities management will meet with Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani in another bid to strike a deal.
The government’s demand that lecturers withdraw two court cases before a counter-offer is tabled at a meeting on Saturday led to collapse of the talks that were aimed at ending the more than two-month strike.
Lecturers were required to withdraw a case on job evaluation and an appeal challenging the alleged illegality of their strike.
They, however, declined the demand, leading to collapse of the talks. Many students and parents had hoped that the talks would end the strike that has paralysed learning in universities.
After the aborted meeting, Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu) vowed to continue with their strikes until a counter offer is tabled.
Unlike in the past, vice-chancellors, deputy vice-chancellors, principals of colleges and others in management will not benefit from the increase that has been negotiated.
STRIKE DEAL
Monday, Uasu and the universities management will meet with Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani in another bid to strike a deal.
Chief negotiator Isaac Mbeche, who is also the University of Nairobi deputy vice-chancellor, said a counter-offer would be tabled only after the lecturers withdraw the cases, insisting that it would be hard for the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to approve the pay rise when they are facing a court case.
“We are under instructions from the government to hold talks under a very conducive environment and that environment is when there are no cases. We have an offer already,” said Prof Mbeche.
However, he declined to reveal the offer, saying it will be made public once it has been tabled to lecturers.
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum chairman Paul Kanyari also said there is an offer but declined to reveal the details. “Just be patient, you will know the exact amount of money we have proposed to pay the lecturers,” said Prof Kanyari.
Uasu Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga accused the government of not taking the matter with the seriousness it deserves. “It seems vice-chancellors are determined to have this strike go on,” said Dr Wasonga at a press conference in Nairobi where he was accompanied by other top union officials. He cautioned university management against harassing striking lecturers.
