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Yesterday, hundreds of first-year and continuing students at Technical University of Kenya who had just reported were left stranded following the strike
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Uasu –Tuk chapter secretary general Fred Sawenja accused the management of failing to address concerns of the tutors
Image: KNA
University lecturers have vowed to paralyse learning even as civil servants joined teachers and called off their planned national strike.
At least four unions threatened to down tools over payment row.
They are Universities Academic Staff Union, Union of Kenya Civil Servants, Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers Education and Kenya National Union of Teachers.
Knut and Kuppet were the first to call off their strike, citing the government's commitment to address their concerns. The concerns include promotion and implementation of phase 2 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Uasu has, however, remained adamant and is determined to keep off lecture halls until their grievances are addressed.
The union issued a strike notice over delays and non-payment of their full salaries and delayed implementation of their 2017-2021 CBA.
Yesterday, hundreds of first-year and continuing students at Technical University of Kenya who had just reported, were left stranded following the strike.
Uasu –Tuk chapter secretary general Fred Sawenja accused the management of failing to address concerns of the tutors, saying they are teaching under deplorable conditions.
“We want to be paid salaries like [at] any other university, not at a rate lower than what the government is paying [at] other universities. Further, our statutory and third-party deductions, including NHIF, NSSF, pension, bank loans, insurance and many others, must be remitted instantly,” he said.
“Some of our colleagues have been taken to court by financial institutions because our employer made deductions and has not remitted [them].”
Last week, more than 900 Moi University academic staff held protests on the streets of Eldoret.
Besides the salary issue and delayed CBA implementation, they raised concerns that more than Sh4.1 billion deducted from their pension scheme had not been remitted.
“We are appealing to President William Ruto to come to Moi and have a roundtable meeting with all partners to save this prestigious institution from collapsing," said chapter chairman Richard Okero.
"There will be no teaching and learning at the university until we are paid our salary arrears and the remittance of monthly contributions worth Sh4.1 billion to a third party."
When calling off the civil servants strike, UKCS secretary general Tom Odege said he is satisfied with the government's commitment to address their grievances.
He said the government has availed resources to pay civil servants from July when the second phase of the agreement was to start.
He spoke during a joint press conference with Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi at the ministry offices.
“The government has announced this morning immediate implementation of the remaining phase 2 salary and allowance agreements as contained in our CBA," Odege said.
“This win, backdated to July 1, 2024 , is welcome. It comes when workers' payslips are hard hit by enormous responsibilities."
UKCS issued a one-week ultimatum to the government to honour the second phase of the CBA.
The first phase covered July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. The second phase, which was breached, covers July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
At the centre of the protracted industrial dispute is the delayed implementation of the second phase of the CBA that the government postponed citing unavailability of funds.