Public University Strike Called Off After Successful Negotiations Led by Labour CS Alfred Mutua

A two-week strike that severely disrupted learning in public universities across Kenya has officially ended.

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Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua led the successful negotiations, bringing relief to thousands of students and staff.

Who Were Involved In The Negotiation

The agreement involved several key stakeholders, including the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE).

Additionally three major unions: the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA).

An inter-ministerial committee with representatives from the Ministry of Education, Treasury, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), and the Ministry of Labour facilitated the discussions.

Agreement They Made

The return-to-work formula signed with UASU allows for an immediate end to the strike. The agreement guarantees no risk of victimization for union members.

Universities will now implement an enhanced monthly basic salary with increments ranging from 7% to 10%.

Additionally, they will introduce an automatic annual increment of 4% for the two-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) cycle, which runs from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025.

The agreement also harmonizes the retirement age for academic staff at 70 years and sets it at 65 years for non-academic staff.

Government Commitment to Prevent Future Strikes

Dr. Mutua emphasized the government’s commitment to resolving disputes before they escalate into industrial action. He stated,

We will work to ensure that strikes are nipped in the bud and that issues raised by employees are addressed in a timely and effective manner
CS Alfred Mutua

Next Steps for Stakeholders

The inter-ministerial committee will meet for one month starting October 1, 2024. They aim to address pending issues such as harmonizing allowances, medical cover, internal CBAs, enhanced staffing in public universities, and budgets for promotions and loans.

This resolution follows a tumultuous period marked by protests among university staff who expressed frustration over low pay and delayed salaries.

UASU Secretary-General Dr. Constantine Wasonga previously stated,

We refuse to accept further delays in our compensation. We are ready for talks but will not return to work until a deal is reached
Dr. Constantine Wasonga