University lecturers call off strike after Gov’t increases their salaries by 10%

Public university lecturers and staffers have called off their nationwide go-slow after striking a return-to-work formula with the government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, on Thursday.

The lecturers downed their tools on September 18, citing delays in finalizing the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the government. An inter-ministerial committee was subsequently formed to address the stalemate.

Labour CS Dr. Alfred Mutua made the announcement in a statement on X on Thursday, highlighting that the truce was struck after a long meeting with various labour unions and entities, including the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), at his ministry's headquarters.

Officials from the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) were also in attendance.

"The two-week strike disrupting learning in public universities across the country has been called off following successful negotiations," said Mutua.

"As part of the return-to-work formula signed with UASU, the strike has been called off immediately, with no risk of victimization for union members."  

According to Mutua, universities will now implement an enhanced monthly basic salary, with increments ranging from 7% to 10%.

Additionally, an automatic annual increment of 4% of the basic salary will be implemented for the duration of the CBA cycle, running from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025.

The deal also led to the harmonization of the retirement age for academic staff, including graduate assistants, tutorial fellows, and assistant lecturers, at 70 years.

"For KUSU members, the same salary increment of 7% to 10% has been agreed upon, with the retirement age for non-academic staff, including those in teaching labs and university libraries, standardized at 65 years," said the Labour CS.

"In the agreement with KUDHEIHA, workers represented in universities will receive a 10% pay increase, marking a significant victory for their members."

While assuring the labour unions and entities that his ministry will set up mechanisms to address university staff grievances before they escalate into industrial action, Mutua announced the formation of an inter-ministerial committee to address unresolved issues.

The committee will convene for a month effective October 1, 2024.