The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) have called off their strike after a meeting with the inter-ministerial committee.
UASU and KUSU on Thursday, September 26, called the strike off after signing a return-to-work formula.
“The Union shall immediately call off the industrial action upon the execution of this Agreement. As a result, the Employer shall withdraw unconditionally the Employment and Labour Relations Cause Number E780 of 2024 and parties shall bear their own costs,” UASU said.
The union also noted that no member of UASU will face victimization or disciplinary action for participating in the said industrial action.
“The Employees, represented by UASU in Public Universities and their Constituent University Colleges, shall collaborate with the Employer to establish a viable plan for recovering any teaching and learning time lost due to the strike,” it added.
At the same time UASU mentioned that the Employer will immediately pay the basic monthly salary at the rates advised by the Government vide the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Grades 13A, 14A and 15A at 7%, and for Grades 10A, 11A and 12A at 10%.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Public Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) and UASU will convene by Friday, September 27, to simulate the salary scales for the Financial Year 2023/2024 and Financial Year 2024/2025 which will be implement the salaries of October 2024.
Consequently, the CBA for the cycle of 2021-2025 will cover the last two (2) years of the cycle beginning July 1, 2023.
Also Read: Police Arrest Striking Lecturers After Teargassing Them in Nairobi CBD
Why Lecturers Went on Strike
The strike, which was in its second week, has severely disrupted learning activities across all public institutions of higher learning in Kenya.
It stemmed from failure of government to negotiate, conclude, register and implement the 2021-2025 National Collective Bargaining Agreement as per the law and the Recognition Agreement Executed on 28th October 2019 between UASU and the Inter-Public Universities’ Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) and chapter CBA for the cycles 2013-2017, 2017-2021 and 2021-2025 across Public Universities and Constituent Colleges.
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua had on Wednesday September 25 moved in to resolve the stalemate, engaging the unions officials in discussions aimed at finding a solution.
Details in The Return- to-work Formula Signed by UASU
In the return-to-work formula, an automatic annual increment will be computed at 4% of the basic salary for the two (2) years of the CBA cycle of 2021-2025 starting 1st July 2023.
Retirement age for all academic members of staff will be harmonized and set at 70 years for Graduate Assistant, Tutorial Fellow and Assistant Lecturer and 74 years for Senior Lecturers, Associate Professors and Professor.
All new academic staff hires will be subject to the new retirement age from the date of their appointment.
Also Read: Nairobi Hospital Suspends Admission of Patients as Strike Starts
For academic staff with existing contracts and in-post academic staff with a retirement age that is higher than 74 years for Lecturers Senior Lecturers, Associate Professors and Professor, the current terms shall be maintained until the end of their contractual period.
The parties have mutually agreed on the Framework for Car Loans and Mortgage Schemes for Public Universities and their Constituent Universities.
Additionally, the Inter-Ministerial Committee will convene for one month, starting from October 1, 2024, to resolve the outstanding issues which include the harmonization of other allowances, medical cover and internal CBAs.
Others comprise of enhanced staffing in Public Universities and their Constituent University Colleges, budget for promotions and budget for the Car Loan and Mortgage Scheme.
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