University students can now breathe a sigh of relief after Universities Staff Academic Union (UASU) decided not to go on strike.
The Union’s strike that had been scheduled for Monday has been called off to give room for talks with the government. The talks are expected to start as soon as possible.
According to the UASU’s Secretary General Constantine Wasonga, the government has agreed to hold talks with the union and come up with a plan that will meet their requirements.
On August 20, the union announced that learning would be paralyzed in universities after a period of 7 days since the government had failed to honor the 2017-2021 CBA agreement.
“UASU gives seven days strike notice. The reason is because IPUCFF and government are in contempt of court. On January 15, the Employment and Labor Relations court ruled that the 2017-2021 CBA be implemented as was negotiated,” Wasonga said in a press conference in Nairobi.
He rubbished claims by the chair of Vice chancellors committee that universities were encountering financial challenges therefore the union should just understand why it was difficult to honor the agreement.
“If there is no money then resign from those positions. It is not the responsibility of UASU to source for funds, ours is to negotiate,” said Wasonga while urging UASU chapter secretaries to mobilize dons in respective universities to demand for their rights.
The official also accused government of falsely claiming to have released Sh8.8 billion.
“The government said they released Sh8.8 billion but the money has not yet been released, now they say they want to release in bits, who will accept that?” he said.
The government released Sh2.2 billion capacitation in July for lecturers to receive improved salaries but some of the universities did not honor the agreement and proceeded with paying lecturers similar salaries as before CBA.
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