- Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding salaries for December and all arrears
- They denounced unfulfilled promises, with UASU accusing the government of failing to fulfill the CBA agreement for 2021-2025
- The teachers’ union warned of a new strike and promised not to resume classes until all dues have been paid in full
- UASU also called for the resignation of Education CS Julius Migos Ogamba, citing incompetence and inability to address their grievances
Didacus Malowa, journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has more than three years of experience in reporting politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi – The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has issued another warning to the government and threatened a new strike.
Source: Twitter
The past year has been full of ups and downs, with teachers facing tear gas and protests during two major strikes demanding salary increases.
UASU has issued a 15-day ultimatum from Wednesday, January 1 demands payment of December salaries along with payment arrears dating back to September.
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This development comes months later UASU signed a return to work agreement with the Ministry of Education in implementation of the 2021-2025 collective labor agreement.
Despite repeated assurances, including a formal directive from Education Principal Beatrice Inyangala, the government is yet to fulfill its promises, leading to frustration among teachers.
‘We saw a circular from the PS leading the university to prepare for the payment of the new salaries in December. But again, when we went for Christmas, the universities went for Christmas without the new salaries as expected. “UASU National Organizing Secretary Onesmus Maluki Mutio
Unfulfilled promises haunt teachers
Mutio expressed the union’s disappointment over the government’s inability to fulfill its obligations.
“The government has not honored the formula for returning to work and that is why we are forced to strike again. That’s in November. We agreed that the new salaries for university teachers would be implemented in December and that we would also settle arrears for the months of October and November in December,” Mutio lamented.
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Adding to their grievances, university officials are said to have alleged that funds to implement the agreed increases had not been disbursed despite a circular from PS Inyangala directing universities to prepare for the payments.
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Why does the UASU want CS Ogamba gone?
Mutio warned that if they returned to the streets, they would have to receive all their wages before resuming classes.
“They have refused to keep their word twice, and this time we will not go back if we start over until we pay everything,” he added.
In a scathing rebuke, the UASU called for the resignation of Education Minister Julius Migos Ogamba, accusing him of incompetence.
‘How can you promise that we will pay you? Then you go back to your office and continue business as usual,” Mutio stated.
Why did UASU teachers go on strike?
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Previously, learning in public universities across Kenya was disrupted afterward UASU has declared a new strike over a pay dispute with the government.
The decision came after the failure to implement the return-to-work formula agreed in September, which was intended to resolve an earlier nationwide strike.
The union’s secretary general ordered members to halt all teaching, marking and examination proctoring activities until the government fulfills its promise to implement the agreed wage increase.
Source: TUKO.co.ke