Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has met with the University Academic Staff Union and Kenya University Staff Union members in a bid to end the two-week strike that has affected learning in public universities.
The meeting, attended by UASU Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga and his KUSU counterpart Dr. Charles Mukhwaya, resulted in the decision to form an inter-ministerial negotiating team.
The labour CS noted that theThe committee will be tasked with addressing the unions’ concerns and formulating a return-to-work agreement.
It will include representatives from the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Education, the National Treasury, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), public universities, the State Corporations Advisory Committee (SCAC), as well as the two unions.
CS Mutua stressed the urgency of resolving the issues at the core of the strike, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to prevent recurrent disruptions.
“We cannot allow these matters to fester and disrupt the education of thousands of students,” the Labour CS said in a statement after the meeting.
“My ministry is committed to fairness and balance in negotiations, and it is crucial that once Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) are signed, they are honoured. If challenges arise, workers must be informed in a timely and transparent manner.”
UASU secretary general, constantine Wesonga vowed to continue with their strike if their grievances are not completely Resolved