UASU suspends lecturer’s strike

UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wesonga called off the lecturer's strike to allow for dialogue. [File, Standard]

Universities and Academic Staff Union has suspended the nationwide lecturer’s strike that was scheduled to kick off in all 35 universities on Monday, August 30.

In a statement dated August 29, the union’s Secretary-General Constantine Wesonga said the move was to pave way for dialogue with the Government.

“UASU National Executive Committee has consequently directed that the Union suspends its strike notice to give a final chance for dialogue,” Wesonga said.

In addition, UASU’S National Executive Committee said they had met to review the status of implementation of the 2017-2021 CBA since the Union issued a Strike Notice on 23rd August 2021.

Seven days ago, the teaching staff union issued a seven-day strike notice over the implementation of the Sh8.8 billion salary deal after notifying public universities councils over their intention to withdraw services.

“Our members in all public universities and their constituent colleges shall withdraw their labour and shall not resume duty until the CBA is fully implemented,” Wesonga said at the time.

He alleged that the universities had failed to fully implement the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as was negotiated and signed by both parties adding that efforts to initiate dialogue with universities to amicably resolve the matter had hit a dead end.

At the center of the stalemate is the full implementation of the Sh8.8 billion that was to benefit 30,000 members of Uasu, Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospital and Allied Workers (Kudheiha).

The first instalment of Sh6.6 billion was released to all universities last year with the Sh2.2 billion being disbursed to the universities monthly to cover all workers.

The union officials have however accused vice-chancellors of implementing the CBA using a skewed formula, resulting in major pay disparities.