The Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) has invited, top officials of the three university workers’ unions to a crucial meeting to discuss the implementation of the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
In a letter dated October 5, Prof. Fred Barasa, the chairman of the IPUCCF Joint Negotiations Committee and Vice-Chancellor of Taita Taveta University, invited the unions to a joint meeting scheduled for October 9 at Machakos University.
“This is to invite you to a joint meeting of IPUCCF and the three trade unions to consider and deliberate on reports over the implementation of the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreements,” Prof Barasa wrote.
“Please arrange to attend the meetings provided for in the Recognition Agreement.”
The letter was addressed to Constantine Wasonga, Secretary-General of the Universities Academic Staff Union, Charles Mukhwaya, Secretary-General of the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and Albert Obed, Secretary-General of the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA).
The meeting comes as lecturers and non-teaching staff in public universities enter their fourth week of their strike, paralysing learning and administrative operations.
ALSO READ:
Western region top schools set for high stakes football tournament
The unions have accused the government and university councils of failing to fully implement the signed CBAs, which were meant to harmonize pay and allowances for staff across the institutions.
Dr Wasonga has in recent weeks maintained that lecturers will not resume duty until the CBAs are implemented in full.
“Our members have waited for too long. The government must honour the agreement it signed. Anything less amounts to betrayal,” he said during a recent press briefing.
Dr Mukhwaya has accused the IPUCCF of dragging its feet despite repeated commitments.
“We have engaged in endless consultations, but the promises have not translated into action. Our members deserve what was negotiated and agreed upon,” he said.
Students in several universities have remained stranded as lecturers avoid university premises maintaining that the government has taken them for a ride for too long.
By Juma Ndigo
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
