University dons strike looms as Ogamba fails to meet leaders

When UASU members participated in a previous national strike over unimplemented CBA. [File, Standard] A meeting between the Ministry of Education and university staff unions that was scheduled to take place yesterday did not materialise, threatening disruption of learning in the public learning institutions. Universities and Academic Staff Union (Uasu) told The Saturday Standard that following the failed agreement between universities and unions, they were to report to Jogoo House. But by yesterday evening, Uasu Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said they were yet to get an invite to a meeting. He said that the union had informed the Ministry of Education on Thursday of its unsuccessful attempt to negotiate with the inter-ministerial committee formed to address the dispute. The meeting was to be chaired by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba. While presiding over a graduation at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Ogamba steered clear of the lecturer's talk. Instead, the CS urged universities to prepare for the transition when Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) learners join their institutions. Ogamba lauded the university's effort in contributing to curriculum development as they prepare for the implementation of CBC in universities. "In line with this, I want to urge universities to work round the clock to ensure they have reviewed their curriculum to align them with CBC in readiness for the admission of the 1st cohort in 2029." Second strike As he spoke, Uasu said that with no new invitation to the negotiation table, they are preparing for another strike. This would mark the second strike by university staff in two months, following an earlier action that ended on September 26. On Tuesday, UASU issued a fresh seven-day strike notice following a breakdown of negotiations with the government regarding the implementation of the return-to-work formula. In a letter to the councils of 35 public universities and three constituent colleges, Wasonga announced that the strike notice will take effect from October 22, 2024. He highlighted the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) for failing to negotiate and finalize the collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) for the periods 2013-2017, 2017-2021, and 2021-2025. "We met the inter-ministerial committee and disagreed on the implementation of the return-to-work formula signed on September 26, 2024. Whereas the unions want the return to work formula implemented as was signed and simulated by the technical committee, the government introduced a global figure of Sh4.3 billion that is not on the plan to cover the two years. "Therefore, I have formally issued a 7-day (s) strike notice," Wasonga said. The announcement was made after a National Executive Committee meeting. He highlighted that the union's concerns surrounding salaries and working conditions remain unresolved. The strike notice comes after university staff unions, including UASU and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), had given the government a one-week ultimatum that expired on October 22, 2024. They demanded salary increases, warning that failure to meet their demands would lead to a nationwide strike.

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