UASU officials during a past presser. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
Lecturers and their employers for the second day running Thursday failed to reach a deal on calling off the one- month strike over unpaid Sh4 billion pension contributions and stalled fresh pay talks.
Universities academic staff union (Uasu) insisted that the issue of separate collective bargaining agreements (CBA) for the 31 public universities, pension for lecturers and talks for 2017-2021 CBA must first be addressed.
“We have not agreed. Three irreducible minimums have not been addressed and therefore the strike is still on,” said Uasu secretary-general Constantine Wasonga.
He said lecturers want firm commitment before calling off the strike and will hold another meeting tomorrow (Saturday).
The Saturday meeting is likely to determine if the strike will hold as Uasu top decision making organ will also be meeting.
Thursday’s meeting started at 11 am and ended at 5pm while Wednesday’s started at 9am and ended at 4pm.
Dr Wasonga said they are demanding Sh4 billion in unremitted pension contributions from 2010, exposing the dons to a smaller retirement package on missed interest from fund’s investments.
“Universities pension scheme is contributory, employer pays 20 per cent and employee 10 per cent. Employees have been paying their money and the employer has not been submitting part of its bargain,” said Dr Wasonga.