Public University Lecturers And Workers Strike Over CBA Implementation

Public universities union have gone on strike again after the government failed to meet their demands in regards to the 2013-2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement that was signed in March following a two-month strike.

Kenya University Staff Union General Secretary Charles Mukhwaya said the government violated the agreement and return to work formula as money had not been wired to their accounts.

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Speaking to Capital FM News, Mukhwaya said that the strike will commence at the graduation square at the University of Nairobi, where they will be demanding full implementation of the CBA.

“The government violated its agreement and we will not go back to work until it is honored,” he said.

His Idea come as Education Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiangi appealed to the university’s union to shelve strike plans on Saturday, 1st July 2017. He said the ministry has already wired 4 billion of the agreed CBA KSh 10 billion into university accounts.

“The Ministry of Education has wired half of the amount, a total of Sh4.775 Billion, into the respective bank accounts of 31 public universities and colleges. The rest of the amount would come from the 2017/2018 Financial Year,” said the CS in a statement.

“We wish to state that the Collective Bargaining Agreements are binding documents between the government and the respective unions.”

“The government reiterates its commitment to meet its side of the bargain and the unions and respective staff are advised accordingly.”

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He emphasized that was no reason for any of the university unions to resort to industrial action and appealed for them to carry on with their duties uninterruptedly.

In response to Dr. Matiangi’s statement, Charles Mukhwana accused the government of playing cat and mouse games. He said the public universities union had not received the KSh4.775 billion in their accounts as claimed by the Education Secretary.

Currently, UoN, JKUAT, and Maseno have all downed their tools with workers and lecturers from UoN blocking Uhuru Highway as they demand the full implementation of the 2013 CBA.