By EN Reporter
Learning will resume in all public universities after lecturers finally called off the 78 days strike that paralyzed learning for over 600,000 students across public universities in the country.
University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) called off the strike after in depth negotiation at the ministry of labour offices led by MS Hellen Apiyo, a ministry conciliator.
Uasu Secretary General Dr Constantine Wasonga said the decision to call of the strike was reached in consideration of the students’ welfare. Dr Wasonga hopes that the government will stick keep its promise.
Vice Chancellor committee chairman Prof Francis Aduol, said that the universities will engage the union in negotiations in order to end perennial strikes.
According to Inter Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum chairman Paul Kanyari, there will be no victimization of any lecturer and all their dues will be paid.
Dr Wasonga said they had rejected Sh 3.6 billion to allow for fresh negotiations. The lecturers have been demanding the government to table the 2017-2021 CBA counter proposals for negotiation and implementation.
Conversely, according to Charles Mukhwaya Kenya Staff Union (Kusu) Secretary General, the strike is still on until they reach an agreement with the government.
On Monday, the government offered the lecturers a 1.75 per cent basic salary increment spread out over four years, without increase on house allowance.
The salary increase translates to 0.435 per cent annual increment. On mortgages and car loans, the proposal says that individual university councils will negotiate with their Uasu chapters.
