Attempts by the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) Egerton University chapter to hold a meeting at the institution’s Nakuru City campus was blocked by the police on Thursday.
"We found a heavy police presence which had strict instructions not to allow us in and hold our meeting," said Uasu secretary Egerton Chapter Grace Kibue.
"This is yet another demonstration of the highhandedness from the VC Prof Isaac Ongubo Kibwage after failure to pay us our salaries. The VC has introduced and silently declared a ‘state of emergency’ in all Egerton University campuses," said Prof Ngari.
“The riot police will not solve issues of non-payment of salaries. We had a return to work formula and a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which has not been honoured," said Prof Ngari.
Prof Kibwage said since the lecturers had gone on strike, the university was closed to guard against vandalism. The VC said the union was planning to start a protest march from Nakuru City Campus but it had not obtained the police permit.
Added the VC: "I'm always ready and willing to negotiate with them [Uasu]. We have a negotiation team but you cannot go for negotiations when you're demanding money and the university doesn't have. Uasu stormed out of the last negotiation meeting. The university management is ready to negotiate to end this stalemate."
"The government wants to bail us out but it takes time to consult, get approvals before the money is released. Today (Thursday) I spent a great deal of time pursuing the money issue in Nairobi. I'm in touch with relevant government authorities which have promised something is being done," said Prof Kibwage.
The lecturers accused the management of intimidating and arm-twisting members to sign documents to return to work and threatening top Uasu officials with disciplinary letters.
“We would like to go back to work, however, we cannot teach as slaves. We'll teach only if we are paid. It is nonsensical asking workers to sign documents without involving the union," said Prof Ngari.
“This strike is lawful and legally protected and the university management has not challenged it,” said Dr Kibue.
However, Prof Kibwage denied the claims saying: "That is not true. The university management cannot force lecturers to sign documents to return to work at the individual level. In any case, when they were first employed their first call of duty was to serve the university and not union activities."
Uasu said it was "appalled" by Egerton University management resource mobilisation strategies of raiding the workers' payslips and failing to honour the 2017-2021 CBA.
The university owes workers salary arrears from July 2020 and has not remitted statutory deductions for the employees since 2017.
The lecturers said they were being subjected to pecuniary embarrassment including property recovery by the creditors.
"As workers, we are troubled as we have families and other financial obligations to meet. The university wants us to work without pay yet students have paid school fees. We demand the CBA implementation," said Dr Kibue.
The lecturers lamented that their spouses and children have missed out on negotiated tuition and waiver benefits and instead they were being forced to take additional teaching workload.
"We have suggested to the university management to consolidate and defer all dues and implement the 2017-2021 CBA," said Dr Kibue.
Prof Kibwage said: "We pay the workers net salaries as the university has no money to pay the statutory deductions. We have explained this to all unions and I don't know why they are so adamant. By striking, they have already made a bad situation worse. These frequent strikes are hurting the institution, they make students not choose Egerton University."
Prof Ngari accused the university management of misusing funds, especially fees paid by the students.
However, Prof Kibwage said: "The money we generate from fees paid by the students and other activities at the campus is insufficient."
