University Crisis Looms as UASU Declares Lecturers' Strike, Cite Gov't Manipulation

 

Learning in public universities across Kenya is set to halt as the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has announced a fresh strike over a pay dispute with the government. UASU secretary-general Constantine Wasonga asked members to cease all teaching, marking, and examination invigilation.  This decision follows a breakdown in the implementation of the return-to-work formula agreed upon in September, which was meant to end an earlier nationwide strike. UASU secretary-general Constantine Wasonga instructed union members to stop all teaching, marking, and examination invigilation activities until the government fulfils its commitment to the agreed-upon pay increment. 

Do not miss an opportunity to join FREE webinar "AI in Action: Practical Skills for Creative Professionals." Register here. "I want to tell UASU members, wherever they are, just work today upto midnight; work today up to midnight but midnight with one minute down your tools. No teaching, physical, no online teaching, no marking, no invigilation. Down your tools until you get 7-10% plus your automatical annual increment," Wasonga stated. Subscribe to watch new videos What was in the UASU-gov't deal to return to work The new pay deal, signed between UASU and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), stipulated a 10% salary increment for lecturers in lower grades and a 7% increase for those in higher grades, along with an automatic 4% annual increment on their basic salary. The pay increase was also to be backdated for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 financial years and implemented in the October payroll. 

However, Wasonga claims the government has delayed honouring the payment, prompting the union to call for immediate industrial action. In the initial agreement, UASU and IPUCCF also included other university worker unions, the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and the Kenya Union of Domestic Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, and Allied Workers (Kudheiha). However, during UASU's national executive council meeting, KUSU and Kudheiha were noticeably absent. Wasonga clarified that he only represents UASU and does not speak on behalf of other unions, leaving it unclear whether KUSU and Kudheiha members will join the strike. "I don’t speak for other unions. If they have accepted, good for them. I only represent members of UASU," Wasonga stated. 

BY TUKO NEWS