University unions call off two-week strike after reaching deal with government

The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) have officially called off their two-week strike after reaching an agreement with the government through a return-to-work formula (RTWF).

The industrial action had caused widespread disruption to learning activities in public universities across the country.

The unions announced that the strike would be halted immediately following the signing of the agreement.

As part of the deal, the employer has agreed to withdraw Employment and Labour Relations Case Number E780 of 2024 unconditionally, with both parties bearing their legal costs. The case involved court declaring the strike illegal.

“No member of UASU will face victimisation or disciplinary action for participating in the strike,” reads the RTWF.

It notes that the parties will work together to establish a plan to recover the time lost during the strike.

The agreement also includes a commitment by the employer to implement new salary adjustments.

For staff in grades 13A, 14A, and 15A, salaries will increase by seven per cent, while grades 10A, 11A, and 12A will see a 10 per cent rise.

"The new salary scales will take effect in October 2024, covering the financial years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025," reads the agreement.

Additionally, automatic annual salary increments of four per cent will be introduced for the two years of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), effective from July 1, 2023.

In addition to the salary increases, the retirement age for academic staff will be standardised. Graduate Assistants, Tutorial Fellows, and Assistant Lecturers will retire at 70, while Senior Lecturers, Associate Professors, and Professors will retire at 74.

The agreement notes that existing contracts that specify a retirement age higher than 74 will be honored until their completion.

A framework for car loans and mortgage schemes for public universities and their constituent colleges was also agreed upon.

An Inter-Ministerial Committee will be established on October 1, 2024, to resolve several pending issues, including the harmonisation of allowances, medical cover, internal CBAs, staff promotions, and budgets for car loans and mortgage schemes.

The agreement, which is effective retroactively from July 1, 2021, will remain in force for four years, and continue thereafter until amended by mutual consent.

A National Implementation Committee with representatives from both the unions and the employer will oversee the execution of the CBA.

The unions emphasised that the Recognition Agreement signed on October 28, 2019, remains binding on all public universities and their constituent colleges until a new agreement is negotiated and comes into effect.

The newly signed deal is binding on all public universities under UASU, along with their respective chapters, and will take immediate effect.