The meeting between lecturers and Members of Parliament aimed at resolving the pay dispute that was to take place on Tuesday failed to kick off, putting any hopes of the strike coming to an end on hold.
Learning in public universities has been paralysed after the lecturers went on strike demanding better pay, throwing graduation plans in disarray for students. The strike has entered its second week.
The meeting failed to take place after the Interpublic Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) failed to provide documents approving a Ksh4.3 billion offer to the University dons under the UASU banner.
In the meeting of the National Assembly Educational Committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga said the Union will not the verbal offer of Ksh4.3 Billion against the Ksh9.7 billion as contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in September 2024.
Technical University of Kenya (TUK) lecturers striking over delayed pay on October 25, 2023
Photo
Kenyans.co.ke
“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.
Professor Fred Simiyu Barasa, the Chairman of, the IPUCCF joint negotiation committee revealed that they can avail the letter for the meeting to continue.
“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, the chairman of the National Assembly Committee Julius Melly directed that the union and the committee have the meeting next week when all the documents are available.
He advised the Union to scrutinize the details of any agreements before signing to avoid future disputes.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has accused the government of negating the Return to work arrangement that saw lecturers call off the strike in September.
When the lecturers agreed to call off their initial industrial action, the government agreed to fast-track track total operationalization of the Return-To-Work Formula (RTWF), which they negated and prompted the lecturers to go back to the streets.
Dr Wekesa reiterated that the lecturers have vowed to keep off campuses until they are paid their dues.
Uasu officials, led by Secretary General Constantine Wasonga, during a media briefing on October 7, 2022.
NMG
