Lecturers scoff at sacking threats, vow strike still on

Lecturers in public universities have vowed to remain on strike despite warnings of disciplinary action and a court order declaring their industrial action illegal.

The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) on Monday said only the implementation of their 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement would bring the strike which began on March 1, 2018 to an end.

KUSU Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya said no negotiations had been ongoing between them and the government since no counter-offer has been tabled.

“We cannot negotiate without a counter proposal. We are telling our members, strike as if you will never strike again until the CBA has been counter proposed negotiated, concluded, signed, registered and implemented,” said Kukhwaya.

“The implementation will be demonstrated by these members having money in their respective bank accounts. That is when the strike will be called off. The strike is on. It must be upscaled and intensified until our demands are met.”

UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga urged the dons to remain on strike until the union advises otherwise.

“Unless the government and IPUCCF give a counter offer sooner, we have asked our members to stay put as we fight for our rights… If they really care about our students let them give this matter remarkable urgency,” said Wasonga.

Meanwhile, Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed is set to hold a crisis meeting with council chairmen of all the 31 public universities and colleges in a bid to resolve the lecturers standoff.

At the same time, the Inter-Public Universities’ Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) has asked university managements to take disciplinary action of lecturers who fail to report to work on Monday, April 9.