This archive report was first published on 29 October 2021.
On Thursday morning, lecturers and workers at Taita Taveta University called off their strike after reaching a return to work agreement with the institution's management.
Published on October 29, 2021, the strike had crippled learning at the university, particularly during the end of semester examinations.
The unions, including the Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu), Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu), and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions and Hospital Workers (Kudheiha), had demanded the implementation of their 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which committed the government to provide a pay increment of Sh13.8 billion.
Although the university's management initially offered Sh12 million out of the Sh16 million owed to the staff, the unions agreed to return to work after assurance that their increments would be addressed from next month.
"Our members have gone back to work as we wait for the implementation of our agreement as from November 1," said Joel Wanina, the Kusu branch secretary-general.
The return to work formula, signed by the Vice-chancellor Prof Fred Barasa and union officials, stated that employee salaries would be paid as agreed in the CBA from November 1, 2021, and that employees would not suffer any victimisation.
Other grievances, including promotions and the employment of casuals, are expected to be addressed in the coming weeks.
