Public university lecturers and some non-teaching have continued with their strike over a bargaining agreement that saw the government release Sh3.9 billion to be paid to the lecturers and the support staffsThe lecturers’ strike enters its second week today after the dons and vice-chancellors failed to find a solution at the weekend. The lecturers and support staff started boycotting work last week,demanding payment of Sh3.9 billion, which is part of Sh7.8 billion negotiated in 2010. Efforts to end the strike hit a snag yesterday after a planned meeting between the university unions officials and the government failed to take place. The talks failed to take place after the Ministry officials snubbed the Union leaders. “We had been invited by Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang at the Ministry headquarters but we waited for two hours without any communication from the Principal Secretary who was to lead the talks, ” said Uasu national chairman Sammy Kubasu. The unions’ leaders claims that most vice-chancellors are not keen on solving the dispute after allegedly being part of the problem. “We have information that some vice- chancellors are saying they do not mind closing down universities even for 10 years,and this is the height of impunity we are referring to,”said Mukhwaya. The union officials have brushed aside a court order obtained by the VCs stopping the strike. The staffs claim that the notice of the strike suspension was not properly served and the court is supposed to respect workers’ rights, not to go against them. “We are soldiering on. We have not been given any solution yet, so the strike goes on. ....,” Kusu secretary-general Charles Mukhwaya said. The unions are protesting lack of implementation of a collective bargaining agreement that handed them Sh7.8 billion in August last year and was to be paid in two installments. They have alleged misappropriation of Sh3.9 billion meant for the salaries of unions’ members by top university management across all public universities. They have accused public universities of diverting the funds meant for the salaries of academic staff members and using them for capitation. In their report on the violation of 2010-2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement Story (CBA) presented to the Education ministry , the two unions claim that over Sh404,432,099 was paid to 75 top universities/university colleges with each top university management pocketing at least KShs 3,717,529.The 2010-2013 CBA had been mutually agreed and duly signed between Kusu, Uasu and Inter Public Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) in 2012 and registered in the Industrial Court for implementation. Reports reaching our news room indicate that Egerton University's workers have resolved to remain firm after failing to agree with the University administration . This follows their collective detest of an offer by the adminstration to be paid part of the money in allowances and end the strike before tomorrow. Some students from the university have expressed their worries that the strike may affect their academic calendar. “The ongoing lecturers strike will largely affect Egerton University unlike other varsities, the semester begun on 24th of January and was supposed to end on 26th of April and there is no hope of the strike being called off.This will mean that the semester will have to be extended for two weeks .” David Marti said. Elsewhere, Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) vice- chancellor Josephat Mwatelah said that they have organised game tournaments to keep idle students busy as their lecturers and other workers continue with the strike."If the strike takes longer than anticipated, they will send the students home until the dispute is resolved.",he said. At the UoN, students are yet to start their end of semester exams while others are preparing to go for industrial attachment. If the strike continues, the school administration will have to postpone exams and those who were to graduate this year may stay in college longer.Some universities have already postponed semester examinations. Masinde Muliro University is one of the affected higher institution of learning. Early next week,the Parliamentary Committee on Education is expected to summon Vice Chancellors over lectures' strike that has paralysed learning in public universities.The committee wants an explanation as to why the university managers do not want to to honour a collective bargaining agreement that saw the government release Sh3.9 billion to be paid to the lecturers. The Vice-Chairman Julius Meli said that the situation was getting out of hand and Parliament should intervene. “We will not sit back as Parliament when the crisis is affecting the education of students,” he said.He added the money which government gave to universities was not meant for development projects but to pay salaries for university lecturers and other staff. Meanwhile,public university students are set to hold a solidarity action against the lecturers and the university administration if the lecturers won’t come back to class.Last Friday,KISU president had issued a 48 hr ultimatum notice ( Read the notice here. ) if the issue was not be resolved.On Thursday,Kenyatta university students who had gone to study for their exams were locked up in the library for nine hours the by angry lecturers . Officials of the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu) have warned that their members would press on with the the strike until the Sh3.9 billion-pay dispute is resolved. “The strike is on and it will continue. We will not heed to anybody’s urge to call off the strike. We will only call off the strike if the money is paid in full,” ~K’Olale. Written by: Mary Mwangi Student,NY university.
misappropriation of Sh3.9 billion meant for the salaries of unions’ members by top university management across all public universities. They have accused public universities of diverting the funds meant for the salaries of academic staff members and using them for capitation. In their report on the violation of 2010-2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement Story (CBA) presented to the Education ministry , the two unions claim that over Sh404,432,099 was paid to 75 top universities/university colleges with each top university management pocketing at least KShs 3,717,529.The 2010-2013 CBA had been mutually agreed and duly signed between Kusu, Uasu and Inter Public Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) in 2012 and registered in the Industrial Court for implementation.
Post A Comment: