University lecturers have called on Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to intervene and come up with an enhanced counter-offer that meets their demands.
They also appealed to the CS to liaise with his National Treasury counterpart to facilitate the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) to negotiate and conclude the contentious 2013-2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
In a memorandum read by Uasu Multimedia University chapter secretary Onesmus Mutio, the dons vowed that they will not be intimidated to resume work before their grievances are fully addressed.
“Uasu denounces the use of police by the government to intimidate lecturers,” he said when he presented their petition to the Education CS at Jogoo House headquarters today.
Mutio termed the Sh10 billion offer by the government as too inadequate and failing to meet their demands by far.
The amount was meant to cater for more than 30,000 public universities workers represented by Uasu, Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu) and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospital and Allied workers over a four year cycle.
“Over the last six years, the value of Kenya Shilling has declined while the cost of basic commodities, housing and the cost of living in general has increased,” he said.
The standoff persists as details have emerged that the lecturers are demanding for Sh22 billion for the dons alone.
For academic staff, the Sh10 billion offered by the government translates into 3.2 per cent compounded increment on basic salary and 1.6 on house allowance, said Mutio.
“Nearly Sh2 billion will go to the employer