NAIROBI, Kenya – Lecturers in public universities have issued a fresh strike threat, set to begin on Wednesday next week, after accusing the government of failing to implement a salary increment agreed upon in a recent deal.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) claim that the government has not honored a Return to Work Formula (RTWF) signed in late September.
The deal, struck on September 26 following mediation by the Ministry of Labour, promised salary hikes of between 7 and 10 percent for lecturers, effective from July 2023.
This adjustment was part of the final phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Speaking at UASU headquarters on Tuesday, UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga expressed frustration over the government’s failure to implement the agreed pay raise.
“Let the public know, we are prepared to call another strike next week,” Wasonga warned. “If the government does not implement the CBA by midnight on Tuesday, come Wednesday, we will announce our next steps.”
The unions had previously gone on strike on September 11 but called it off after negotiations resulted in the RTWF deal.
However, the unions now say that despite the agreement, the promised salary adjustments have not been reflected in their members’ pay.
Wasonga urged union members to brace for a prolonged strike, emphasizing that they would only return to work after the salary increases were implemented.
“This time, once we call our members out, they will only return once the money is in their bank accounts. We are not backing down,” he stated.
Under the agreed terms, pay for assistant lecturers was set to range from Sh107,872 to Sh166,072, while professors were to receive between Sh224,631 and Sh345,816. Graduate assistants were to earn between Sh63,647 and Sh97,988.
The unions have been negotiating for the 2021-2025 CBA since September 2020.
Despite the long-standing talks, union leaders now accuse the government of reneging on the deal that was supposed to settle the pay dispute.
“By next Tuesday, universities should have issued new payslips reflecting the 7 to 10 percent increase,” Wasonga demanded.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) claim that the government has not honored a Return to Work Formula (RTWF) signed in late September.
The deal, struck on September 26 following mediation by the Ministry of Labour, promised salary hikes of between 7 and 10 percent for lecturers, effective from July 2023.
This adjustment was part of the final phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Speaking at UASU headquarters on Tuesday, UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga expressed frustration over the government’s failure to implement the agreed pay raise.
“Let the public know, we are prepared to call another strike next week,” Wasonga warned. “If the government does not implement the CBA by midnight on Tuesday, come Wednesday, we will announce our next steps.”
The unions had previously gone on strike on September 11 but called it off after negotiations resulted in the RTWF deal.
However, the unions now say that despite the agreement, the promised salary adjustments have not been reflected in their members’ pay.
Wasonga urged union members to brace for a prolonged strike, emphasizing that they would only return to work after the salary increases were implemented.
“This time, once we call our members out, they will only return once the money is in their bank accounts. We are not backing down,” he stated.
Under the agreed terms, pay for assistant lecturers was set to range from Sh107,872 to Sh166,072, while professors were to receive between Sh224,631 and Sh345,816. Graduate assistants were to earn between Sh63,647 and Sh97,988.
The unions have been negotiating for the 2021-2025 CBA since September 2020.
Despite the long-standing talks, union leaders now accuse the government of reneging on the deal that was supposed to settle the pay dispute.
“By next Tuesday, universities should have issued new payslips reflecting the 7 to 10 percent increase,” Wasonga demanded.
