The public university lecturers’ strike is set to continue, after the striking lecturers rejected Education CS Fred Matiang’i’s request of suspending the strike.
According to UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga, they have rejected the request.
“NEC has rejected the statement of intention from the government until the union signs the delayed 2013/17 CBA,” said Wasonga.
Wasonga said the lectures want nothing short of a reasonable counter-offer from the government in order to resume classes.
"I call upon lecturers to intensify the strike in the coming week. The dons cannot eat statements of intention from the government," he said.
According to reports, the government had tabled a three per cent counter offer for the university dons to call off the strike, but the union was demanding that structured salaries be harmonised with what civil servants and those in private sector earn, not percentages.
Matiang’i had on Thursday requested lecturers to suspend the strike to allow for negotiations starting next week, as they seek to find a lasting solution to the strike that entered day nine on Friday.
“It is important to suspend the strike so that talks are not jeopardised,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
He also directed Vice Chancellors of public universities not to take disciplinary actions against striking lecturers.