University workers' unions reject CS Ogamba's return-to-work deal

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba. [File, Standard]

University workers unions have clashed with Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on the resolution of their grievances, signalling a continuation of the industrial action.

Ogamba on Friday said that the Ministry had brokered several issues raised by the University’s Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) in their negotiations.

“Through ongoing negotiations with the Universities Academic Staff Union and the Kenya Universities Staff Union, we have closed ranks on several issues,” said Ogamba. “We have agreed on the matters of harmonization of retirement age; a seven per cent basic salary increment for higher grades; annual leave; and on the establishment of national implementation committees to monitor the rollout of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.” He said.

UASU and KUSU Secretaries General Constantine Wasonga and Charles Mukwaya however maintained that the dons will not back down on the strike action unless the government resolves all their issues.

“We have not agreed on anything. We want an increase of between seven per cent to 10 per cent, not the 3.5 per cent to seven per cent they are offering us. Apart from the increase, we are demanding car and mortgage schemes and when the starting date is,” said Wasonga.

Mukhwaya said no agreement had been reached with Ogamba because he had asked us to delay the trike.

“The figures he (Ogamba) is talking about are not what we asked for and the strike is still on,” said Mukhwaya.

Ogamba said his ministry has been engaging with the trade unions to ensure normalcy is restored in the higher learning institutions.

The tiff between Ogamba and the unions comes a day after UASU and KUSU issued a notice for a peaceful demonstration on Monday, September 23, 2024.

The procession will begin from The University of Nairobi to Parliament, the National Treasury and the Ministry of Education office.

Wasonga noted that the government has not come out clearly even on the offers they have been giving to lecturers rather than taking them in circles.

“The percentages the Cabinet Secretary is talking about are for how many years? How is he going to harmonize allowances paid to university staff?” he questioned.

“We have agreed on the number of leave days but not on leave allowances. We have agreed on the seven per cent for high-income earners but low-income earners which we want to be at 10 per cent and not the 3.5 per cent,” he said.

On Friday, Ogamba reiterated that the government is willing to engage with the unions on the remaining issues to reach an amicable solution to ending the stalemate.

“We have indicated our willingness to negotiate with the unions on the remaining issues. The Ministry of Education takes cognizance of the concerns raised by UASU are legitimate. However, they cannot all be resolved at once,” he added.

The CS noted that to reach a sustainable, long-term solution that meets the expectations of all stakeholders, this requires a consensus understanding.

“Some of them require the involvement of other bodies, such as the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. We therefore need to talk to each other, and to develop a framework for long-term and sustainable solutions,” said Ogamba.

He noted that the Government is committed to providing university staff with favourable terms of service, ensuring that they can work in a conducive environment.

“The last meeting, we had was on Monday, September 16, when we requested the unions to call off the strike. At present, we are still reaching out to the unions for discussions, so that our universities can return to normal operations,” said Ogamba.
In a letter dated September 16, 2024, to Wasonga the CS announced a significant breakthrough in the pressing concerns of the unions.

The letter says that the union the Inter-Public Universities Council’s Consultative Forum (IPUUCF) and the Federation of Kenya Employers reached an agreement on five key issues that could transform the landscape for educators and administrative personnel alike.

Among the most critical points discussed were the retirement age and a proposed seven per cent basic salary increment for higher-grade staff.

Additionally, the letter says that plans for a comprehensive car loan and mortgage scheme were already outlined, alongside annual leave provisions and the establishment of a national implementation committee to monitor the execution of the signed Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The meeting, the letter further reveals discussed harmonization of allowances payable to staff across universities, which it says, is currently under active review by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

On the matter of the car loan and mortgage scheme, the letter says, progress is being made, with the framework reportedly in the final stages of development.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the recent offer of a 3.5 per cent salary increment for those who had not received any raises following the advisory from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission on June 21, 2024.`