University Staff Unions Reject Ogamba’s Return-to-Work Agreement, Dispute with Education Ministry Continues.
University staff unions remain at odds with Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, signaling that their industrial action is likely to persist.
Ogamba stated on Friday that his Ministry had resolved several issues raised by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) through ongoing negotiations.
He reported that both parties had reached an understanding on a few key issues: the harmonization of retirement age, a seven percent salary increase for higher grades, annual leave provisions, and the creation of national committees to oversee the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Union Leaders Reject Offers
Despite Ogamba’s announcement, UASU and KUSU leaders, Constantine Wasonga and Charles Mukwaya, rejected the claims, stating that the strike would continue until all issues were resolved.
Wasonga emphasized that they had not agreed to any terms and criticized the government’s offer of a 3.5 to seven percent salary increase.
He reiterated their demand for a salary increase ranging from seven to ten percent, along with car and mortgage schemes. Additionally, they sought clarification on the implementation date for these proposals.
Mukwaya echoed Wasonga’s sentiments, stating that no agreement had been reached. He argued that the figures mentioned by Ogamba did not align with their demands, and therefore, the strike would continue as planned.
Planned Demonstrations and Unmet Demands
The dispute escalated further when UASU and KUSU issued a notice for a peaceful protest scheduled for Monday, September 23, 2024.
The demonstration will start at the University of Nairobi and proceed to Parliament, the National Treasury, and the Ministry of Education offices.
Wasonga criticized the government for not providing clear details on their offers, accusing them of misleading the lecturers.
He questioned how Ogamba intended to harmonize university staff allowances and expressed dissatisfaction with the seven percent salary increment offered to high-income earners, while low-income earners were only offered 3.5 percent instead of the desired 10 percent.
Ministry’s Willingness to Negotiate
Ogamba reiterated the government’s willingness to continue negotiations with the unions to resolve the remaining issues. He acknowledged the legitimacy of the unions’ concerns but stressed that not all problems could be solved immediately.
He added that resolving some of these matters would require input from other bodies, such as the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). Ogamba called for mutual discussions to develop a long-term, sustainable solution.
The Education Cabinet Secretary emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring favorable working conditions for university staff.
He mentioned that during a meeting on September 16, the Ministry had requested the unions to suspend the strike. Ogamba reaffirmed that the Ministry continues to engage the unions in talks to restore normalcy in universities.
Breakthrough in Negotiations
In a letter dated September 16, 2024, addressed to UASU Secretary General Wasonga, Ogamba announced significant progress in resolving the unions’ pressing concerns. The letter highlighted that the Inter-Public Universities Council’s Consultative Forum (IPUUCF) and the Federation of Kenya Employers had reached an agreement on five major issues.
Key areas of agreement included the retirement age and a seven percent basic salary increment for higher-grade staff. The letter also outlined plans for car loans and mortgage schemes, provisions for annual leave, and the formation of a national committee to monitor the CBA’s implementation.
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The letter revealed that discussions on harmonizing staff allowances across universities were ongoing and currently under review by the SRC. It also indicated that the framework for the car loan and mortgage scheme was nearing completion.
Additionally, it confirmed the offer of a 3.5 percent salary increment for employees who had not received raises following the SRC’s advisory on June 21, 2024.
University Staff Unions Reject Ogamba’s Return-to-Work Agreement, Dispute with Education Ministry Continues
