University dons today petitioned the National Assembly to intervene and end the stalemate between them and the government after talks between the two collapsed.
They accused university vice chancellors of deliberately delaying to implement the 2013-2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Led by Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) secretary general Constantine Wasonga they termed the Sh10 billion offer by the government as “too little too late”.
“We are ready and willing to die for what rightfully belongs to us. Let nobody imagine that we will take any deal which does not respond to our initial proposal,” he said during a gathering at University of Nairobi’s Graduation Square.
He accused the government failing to meet their demands and factoring the pension component as well as the rising cost of inflation.
“The Sh10 billion only translates to a paltry 3.2 per cent increase in basic salary as well as 1.6 per cent rise in house allowance for the 30,312 workers in all the 33 public and constituent colleges across the country,” he said.
The Uasu boss further blamed the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) of introducing an additional 7,000 ghost workers to unfairly benefit from the government offer.
“Until the government heeds to our demands, I appeal to all the lecturers to upscale, intensify and escalate the strike,” he said.
The union officials and members who led a peaceful demonstration across the streets of Nairobi also submitted their petition to the National Treasury.