The CS on Wednesday, April 25 held discussions with officials from UASU and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) to address the ongoing strike
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has announced that the government will join forces with the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) in a bid to address issues raised by lecturers that led them to strike.
The CS on Wednesday, April 25 held discussions with officials from UASU and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) to address the ongoing strike, which entered its second week and disrupted learning in all public universities across the country.
“During the meeting, which was attended by UASU Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga and KUSU Secretary General Dr. Charles Mukhwaya among other members, we agreed on the formation of an inter-ministerial negotiating team,” he announced in a statement following the meeting.
During discussions with officials from the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) on September 25, 2024. /ALFRED MUTUA
The committee will address the key concerns raised by the unions and work toward a return-to-work agreement.
The team will comprise representatives from the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Education, the National Treasury, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), public universities, the State Corporations Advisory Committee (SCAC), and the unions.
Mutua urged the team to fast-track its mandate in a bid to end the strike which affected thousands of students, a situation he believed was not pleasing to the government’s eyes.
“I emphasized the urgency of resolving the issues that have led to this strike. We cannot allow these matters to fester and disrupt the education of thousands of students.
“My ministry is committed to fairness and balance in negotiations, and it is crucial that once Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) are signed, they are honoured. If challenges arise, workers must be informed in a timely and transparent manner,” the CS assured.
According to Mutua, the unions are seeking resolutions on salary increments and allowances, alongside other issues outlined in the CBA.
The inter-ministerial committee is set to commence discussions on Thursday, September 26, and Mutua assured that the government will work diligently until a resolution was arrived at.
Also present at the meeting was the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Labour, Shadrack Mwadime, along with other senior government officials.
“We understand the impact this strike has had on students, and I remain hopeful that these negotiations will yield a quick resolution so that normal activities in public universities can resume without further delay,” he expressed.
Meanwhile, the lecturer’s union maintained that they would still not go back to class until some of their demands were met.
The lecturers downed their tools last week and have been holding demonstrations in parts of the country. This came after UASU on Wednesday, September 11 issued a 7-day strike notice that saw learning activities impaired in all 35 public universities as a new academic year began.
