Academic staff at the cash-strapped Egerton University have dismissed the planned restructuring process at the institution terming it ill-timed, irrational and illogical.
University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Egerton University Chapter said the intended declaration of redundancy at the institution cannot happen since the university has no cash to effect it.
"The university must pay the deferred salaries because the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) found that the move to reduce workers’ pay was unlawful,"Chapter Secretary Grace Kibue said in a statement on Tuesday.
Kibue told the University Council to avoid diversionary tactics and direct its energy in deploying all means possible to get money to pay employees.
She urged the employer to pay workers and redeem their (workers) dignity adding that the move would restore Egerton’s coveted status as a premier agricultural university.
On December 21, the university which has been experiencing a protracted disagreement with its workers over salaries, announced its plans to lay off workers across all cadres as a cost-cutting measure.
While issuing the redundancy notice, the university cited difficulties in paying the full requirements for the staff salaries and benefits.
The redundancy memo was released by Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration and Planning Prof Richard Mulwa barely a week after the Labour court in Nakuru handed the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Isaac Kibwage and eight council members a one-month jail term for contempt of court.
The nine, who were given an alternative penalty of Sh100,000 each, were found guilty of defying court orders to produce evidence to prove that their move to reduce employees’ salaries by 40 per cent was caused by economic effects of COVID-19.
"Undoubtedly, redundancy is a lawful and structured process of human capital and resource management but the timing for Egerton is wrong due to a number of factors among them university’s financial status and staff deficit," Kibue said.
She said if at all redundancy was necessary, the union would have exercised due caution and diligence to guarantee that the process was conducted within the strict confines of obtaining labour laws.
Kibue said some programmes at the university are facing imminent collapse as senior academic staff have left and continue leaving in droves for greener pastures creating a huge and widening staff deficit.
"Besides, it doesn't help matters that staff who have left through mass resignations, death and natural attrition have not been replaced,” Kibue said.
