Nairobi – Three unions representing workers from local public universities have threatened to down their tools over a delayed new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational institutions, Hospital and Allied workers (KUDHEIHA), the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) are blaming the government for failing to offer them a counter-proposal to a new CBA despite presenting theirs in June 2016.
KUDHEIHA has already issued a strike notice on the 9th January if the government fails to table a new CBA proposal for negotiations.
Speaking in Nakuru on Friday, KUDHEIHA secretary general Albert Njeru said they issued a strike notice on the 8th of December 2016 which they will effect on 9th of this month unless the government acts.
“The 30 days strike notice will lapse on the midnight of 8th and if by then the government will not have responded by offering a counter proposal for a new CBA, we as KUDHEIHA will proceed with the strike,” said Njeru. He
He added: “There will be no need for parents to bring first-year students and for continuing students, you don’t need to report because there will be nothing going on in the universities.”
KUSU secretary general, Charles Mukhwaya said the last time university dons and staff received a pay hike was in 2010.
“The 2013/2017 CBA has been in limbo for six years and the last time university staff received a pay hike was in July 2010 and since the old CBA expires in the next five months, we already presented a proposal for the new CBA to the government but up to now they are yet to present a counter-proposal,” said Mukhwaya.
The officials of the three unions spoke after meeting vice chancellors and councils of public universities in Nakuru.
