The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has officially called off the two-week strike that had disrupted operations in public universities nationwide, following a successful agreement with the government. The strike, which involved university lecturers, non-teaching staff, and other workers, brought learning to a standstill but has now ended, providing much-needed relief to thousands of students and staff.
The deal was reached after intense negotiations at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection headquarters. The talks involved the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), and three major unions: UASU, the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA).
Mediation was provided by an inter-ministerial committee with representation from the Ministry of Education, the Treasury, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), and the Ministry of Labour.
As part of the agreement, UASU members have been assured there will be no victimization following the strike. Universities will now implement a salary increment ranging from 7% to 10%, along with an automatic 4% annual raise over the duration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which runs from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025. The retirement age for academic staff, including graduate assistants, tutorial fellows, and assistant lecturers, has also been harmonized to 70 years.
KUSU members will benefit from the same 7% to 10% salary increment, with non-academic staff, including those working in teaching labs and university libraries, having their retirement age standardized at 65 years.
For KUDHEIHA members, the agreement includes a 10% pay increase, marking a significant victory for workers in universities.
The Ministry of Labour has assured that mechanisms will be put in place to resolve disputes before they escalate into strikes. An inter-ministerial committee will convene on October 1, 2024, to address unresolved issues, including the harmonization of allowances, medical cover, internal CBAs, and staffing, as well as budgets for promotions, car loans, and mortgage schemes for public universities.
Labour PS Shadrack Mwadime and Higher Education and Research PS Dr. Beatrice Inyangala were among the senior government officials present during the negotiations.
