Egerton University staff meeting called off as dons boycott work
Uasu Egerton Chapter chairperson Prof Mwaniki Ngari (left), Dr Grace Kibue (centre) chapter secretary and Dr Patrick Murerwa chapter organising secretary lead dons and non-teaching staff in a meeting at the Njoro campus on November 9, 2021.
A staff meeting that was supposed to be addressed by Egerton University Vice-Chancellor Prof Isaac Ongubo Kibwage was cancelled after lecturers insisted they will not attend the meeting.
The Wednesday meeting was expected to come up with a solution to the current financial stalemate that has rocked the Njoro-based campus which has seen the more than 500 lecturers boycott work to demand a salary increase.
On Tuesday, the Acting Registrar Human Capital and Administration Stellah Kereto, in a notice to all staff, said the VC address had been cancelled without giving any reasons.
“Further to the earlier notice inviting you to attend the vice-chancellor's address on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at Kilimo Hall at 10am, this is to inform you that due to unavoidable circumstances the meeting has been cancelled," read the notice.
The VC was also supposed to lead the university management board in a joint negotiation meeting with University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) chapter officials.
Worker’s salaries
The joint meeting was supposed to discuss failure by the university management to pay workers’ salaries from July 2020in compliance with a Return-To-Work Formula negotiated and signed by both parties on November 30, 2020.
The meeting was also supposed to discuss failure by the university management to implement the national 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) after a court ruling and suspension of clause 11.0 (a) and (b) of the obtaining CBA
The collapse of the meeting means learning will remain paralysed as lecturers stay.
The situation, according to non-teaching staff who are members of the Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu), may become worse as they are planning to join the work boycott. They are owed salary arrears amounting to millions of shillings.
"The university management must pay our members the pending arrears which are long overdue. We shall join our brothers and sisters from Uasu to demand our rights," said one of the Kusu shop steward.
Uasu Egerton Chapter secretary Grace Kibue, in a letter addressed to striking lecturers, faulted the procedure of inviting the union members for a VC address to resolve the stalemate in an open staff meeting as uncalled for.
Stalemate
"We're in an industrial circumstance that requires compliance with the law and requisite procedure and protocol for an amicable solution to our stalemate. This requires the employer to meet with the union and discuss the stalemate," said Dr Kibue.
She added: "By choosing to bypass the union, the university management is in breach of protocol and the union accordingly requests and advises you [members] to refrain from attending the VC meetings. It is aimed at frustrating its efforts regarding the issues raised in the strike notice."
The lecturers’ work boycott began on November 15 and this has seen the university management reinforce security around the campus after angry workers vowed not to resume work until they are paid their pending dues.
