Lectures union leaders during a past media address (photo/the star)
It is a ray of hope for the striking dons, as lecturers union will today meet the Inter-Public University Council Consultative Forum (IPPUCF) to find a solution on the industrial action that has crippled learning in public universities.
The agenda of the meeting is to start negotiations on the 2017/2021 CBA and conclusion of the internal CBAs.University and Academic Staff Union (UASU) chairperson Muga K’Olale disclosed to the star that the closed-door meeting will determine whether the union will call off the strike."We will be meeting with IPUCCF on Wednesday to deliberate on the demands that are yet to be met and from this, we will give the way forward as a union."
There are indications that the srike which has lasted for 25 days may soon end now that some of the public universities have instructed students to resume classes.
Among the universities that have recalled their students include; the University of Nairobi (UoN), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU).
The government as so far offered an initial payment of Sh2.1 billion of the Sh5.2 billion it owes the university workers to cater for all salary arrears for the past five months starting July."The five months arrears that the government released will be reflected in the December payslip," K’Olale saidAccording to K'Olale,the remaining Sh3.1 billion will be released on a monthly basis, as each university will get enhanced capitation to implement new salary rates.