Court puts breaks on lecturers’ strike plot

Employment and Labour Relations Court has blocked public university lecturers from participating in a strike to press the Government to honour a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Labour Court judge Hellen Wasilwa issued the orders against Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) and University Academic Staff Union (UASU) members yesterday.

She said all dons from 33 public universities in the country should not down their tools up until the case filed by the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) is heard and determined.

"An order is hereby issued restraining the respondents ... from taking part in, calling, instigating, or inciting others in taking part of industrial action pending the hearing and determination of the application," said Justice Wasilwa.

The union officials called for the strike after talks between union officials and the Government hit a deadlock on Friday last week. Uasu Chairman Muga K'olale said:"The university staff feel most oppressed, most disregarded and most exploited," he said. They want the least paid lecturer to pocket Sh350,000 and professors Sh1.9 million a month.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Court awards Judge Sh3.2 million in retirement benefits battle
• 
  Teachers to get salary raise effective July after new CBA deal
• 
  Supreme Court rejects Tuju's new evidence in Sh1.9b EADB loan suit
• 
  Judges and magistrates push for mediation to reduce backlog of cases

But their employer, told the judge that the strike is illegal and unprotected. Although they had opted to call off the strike, Justice Wasilwa ordered that status quo should be maintained. The Kenya Union of Domestic Hotels, Education Health Institutions and Allied workers (KUDHEHIA) were also ordered not to strike up until negotiations are over. The hearing for the lecturers' case is on January 18 whereas the KUDHEIHA will be mentioned on February 14.