Lecturers strike still on says UASU

The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has declared that the ongoing lecturers strike will continue despite a court order declaring it illegal.

In a press conference held on Sunday, UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga also stated that the union would appeal the Employment and Labour Relations court’s ruling of March 16 that stopped the strike.

“Today, UASU’s National Executive Counci has voted by secret ballot, and the result of the ballot is 40. We are 40 members, the 40 members have unanimously voted that UASU appeals the court ruling of March 16, 2018. UASU is also going to apply for stay of the orders issued on March 1,6 2018, therefore the status quo ante remains; which means the strike continues unabated,” declared Mr. Wasonga.

Wasonga further stated that the union respects the law and any action taken by them would be as per the confines of the law.

The lecturers in public universities on March 1 announced the countrywide strike demanding the government to table a counter-offer of the 2017-2021 salary proposal.

Top on the list of their demands was that their pay structure and awarding of allowances be streamlined akin to those of their colleagues in the public sector.

The Employment and Labour Relations court, however, on March 16 ordered lecturers to call off their strike and resume work next week Monday.

Judge Onesmus Makau directed the government to give the lecturers a counter proposal within 30 days.

“In my view I find that the strike is not in compliance with the mandatory procedure provided in the Labour Relations Act and section 76(b) and 78(1) (e) of the act,” the judge ruled.