The Ministry of Labour has summoned a reconciliation meeting between the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu), Moi University council, and the university management in an effort to resolve the ongoing lecturers’ strike. The strike, now entering its second week, has seen over 900 lecturers down their tools in protest over unpaid salaries and unfulfilled promises regarding their employment terms.
The Ministry of Labour, through labour officer Carolyne Chemursoi, has called for the meeting, which is scheduled to take place at the labour offices in Eldoret on Friday, September 6, 2024. In her communication to the parties involved, Chemursoi emphasized the need for a resolution to the issues that have disrupted academic activities at the university.
This move by the ministry follows a request by Moi University council chairman, Dr. Humphrey Njoroge, who appealed for government intervention to mediate between the striking lecturers and the university management. Njoroge’s request highlighted the university’s struggles in managing the strike and finding a middle ground with the union.
Uasu branch secretary Nyabuta Ojuki confirmed receipt of the ministry’s communication and expressed the union’s readiness to attend the reconciliation meeting. However, Ojuki stressed that the union’s participation in the meeting does not guarantee a resumption of work unless their demands are fully addressed.
The lecturers’ grievances include unpaid salaries for the months of July and August, as well as the full implementation of the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Despite efforts by the university council, including a letter from Njoroge to Uasu secretary general Constantine Wasonga urging lecturers to resume work as discussions continued, the union has maintained a firm stance.
“They have continued to give us false promises, and unless they pay, we will not resume work,” Ojuki stated. He added that the union has lost confidence in mere assurances and would require concrete actions before calling off the strike.
Wasonga reiterated the union’s demands, stating that the university must meet the lecturers’ terms without further delay. He warned that if the grievances are not addressed within a week, the union would escalate the strike actions. This could potentially involve a nationwide strike across all public universities, highlighting a broader issue of underfunding and neglect of institutions of higher learning in Kenya.
The Uasu national officials had previously led demonstrations in Eldoret town, pushing for the payment of delayed salaries and the implementation of the CBA. During these protests, Wasonga criticized the government’s new university funding model, arguing that it had failed to address the financial challenges faced by lecturers and other university staff.
“We have said enough is enough and directed our staff at Moi University not to report back to work until all their grievances are addressed by the management,” Wasonga stated. He also pointed out the disparity in the treatment of university staff compared to other public sectors, questioning why lecturers should depend on fees payments for their salaries while other public servants are paid from government funds without similar conditions.
Branch officials of Uasu, led by chairman Richard Okero and Ojuki, further emphasized that the university’s failure to remit more than Sh4.2 billion deducted from workers for their pension scheme was a critical issue that needed urgent resolution.
“We will not return to work until all the grievances we have raised are addressed. We will have to get all that we want before we sign any return-to-work formula,” Okero stated.
The ongoing impasse has had a significant impact on Moi University, affecting students and disrupting the academic calendar. With the reconciliation meeting set for Friday, there is cautious optimism that a resolution can be reached to bring an end to the strike and restore normalcy at the institution.
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