University dons’ strike to continue as lecturers reject gov’t offer

The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has rejected government’s offer for lecturers as well as the call to suspend their strike to allow room for negotiations.

Addressing the press, UASU Secretary General, ConstatineWasonga, said that the National Executive Council (NEC) has rejected the offer until the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2013 is implemented.

Wasonga further directed lecturers to intensify the strike until all their demands are met.

This comes just a day after Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matiang’i, appealed to the lecturers to suspend their strike until the end of next month to give room for negotiations that are set to begin on Monday, January 29.

Last week, university workers in at least nine universities began their nationwide strike despite a Labour and Employment Court ruling that pronounced it illegal, effectively warning members of UASU from participating in it saying that it was unprotected.

The workers are pushing for the implementation of their CBA which awarded them a pay rise and if implemented would also see the working conditions improved as well as more lecturers recruited to bridge the current deficit.

The two university staff unions accuse the government of ignoring their grievances, including demands for better pay for lecturers and improved working conditions.

Their call comes at a time when the government is dealing with a health sector crisis occasioned by an over 50-day strike by doctors in all public hospitals to push for the implementation of a CBA signed in 2013.