Lecturers’ strike continues as govt fails to table new counter-offer
By Kennedy Epalat/Christine Muchira
As the Universities’ lecturers’ strike enters its 30th day, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) officials have vowed to step up their strike countrywide beginning Monday, until the 2013/2017 CBA is negotiated, signed and implemented.
Addressing a press conference at UASU Head office in Nairobi Friday, the officials led by the Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga called on parents and Guardians of University students not to take their children to the Universities as there is no learning going on in all the universities.
He noted that the strike cannot be called off by any other body except UASU.
Dr. Wesonga clarified that it is only UASU which is mandated to call of the strike, and rubbished the purported signing of a shs. 10 billion offer from the Inter Public Universities Consultative Council Forum (IPUCCF) on Monday, saying it was far below the expectations of the University staff.
“Through a letter dated 10th February 2017, the government gave an offer of Ksh10 billion for the 2013-2017 CBA cycle to cover basic salary, house allowance and pension for all public university workers. We know that a global figure such as Ksh 10billion sounds big” said Dr. Wesonga adding that “Let me clarify that this amount was not meant for lecturers alone.”
The Chairman of UASU Prof. Muga K’Olale termed as propaganda, claims that the union is being used by the opposition to paralyze learning in the universities.
The over 8,000 lecturers countrywide downed their tools on 19th, January 2017.
The Union wants the lowest-paid lecturer to earn kshs. 350,000 monthly while a senior professor to be paid kshs. 1.9 million Per month.
UASU is however ready for a counter offer and salary harmonization.
