UASU Demands CBA Implementation Amid National Strike
Maseno, Kenya – September 18, 2024
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has called for a nationwide strike, effectively paralyzing learning in public universities across the country. The strike, which commenced today, has seen lecturers and academic staff down their tools in protest of delayed salary reviews, poor working conditions, and what they term as the government’s failure to honour a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) reached in 2021.
The strike, which affects over 30 public universities, has thrown the academic calendar into disarray, leaving tens of thousands of students in limbo as they prepare for examinations and project submissions. This latest industrial action comes after months of unsuccessful negotiations between UASU and the Ministry of Education.
UASU Demands Salary Review UASU Maseno Chapter Secretary, Stephene Onyango, speaking at a press briefing in Maseno, has emphasized that the ongoing nationwide strike affects all public universities in Kenya, calling for the full implementation of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). According to the union’s representatives, the strike notice was issued to the chairpersons of university councils, and they are demanding nothing less than the complete fulfilment of the CBA.
“And as the employees of the universities in all the public universities in Kenya, we are asking we want our CBA implemented in total. Nothing less, nothing more. “This is a national strike. The strike was issued, notice was issued to the chairman of councils of all the universities. So any other person in this university is an employee of the same council.”
UASU Maseno Chapter expressed frustration that lecturers are still operating under the 2013–2017 CBA, with outdated benefits such as commuting allowances set a decade ago and insufficient medical support. The union highlighted Maseno University, where lecturers are teaching up to 12 courses per semester, far exceeding the limit of three units as per court rulings. They argue that the excessive workload is affecting the morale and performance of academic staff.
” Back to Maseno. As already mentioned, the local CBA has stalled for quite too long. We are still operating with the 2013 -2017 CBA. We are getting commute allowances, which was set in 2013. That is 10 years down the line. We are getting support through the medical bill of 2000, actually 1900, which was set in 2013. We are saying we cannot allow that. We want the local CBA implemented fully as part of the strike notice. We have a number of issues. In Maseno, for example, it is the only university in the whole republic where lecturer teaches up to 10 -12 courses in a semester.”
In addition to a reduced workload, UASU is demanding comprehensive medical coverage and other welfare improvements. The union has vowed not to return to class until their demands are met and insists the strike will continue across all public universities.