Parties in lecturers’ CBA pay deal urged to work on interim plan
Irene Githinji @gitshee
The Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) yesterday directed that tripartite parties involved in the lecturers’ 2017/2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to work out an interim implementation plan by this Friday.
The directive was issued when parties comprising University Academic Staff Union (Uasu), representatives of Ministry of Education and Inter-Public Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) respectively appeared before Justice Maureen Onyango.
“To ensure implementation before the close of financial year, the parties should agree on interim implementation of CBA by June 12,” directed Justice Onyango.
Should the parties not agree by Friday, Justice Onyango said the court will impose it’s own decision on interim implementation.
Consequently, the case will be mentioned on June 15 for further directions on interim implementation to avoid returning funds to National Treasury.
During yesterday’s session, it was noted that all parties were in favour of immediate implementation of the CBA, the university councils having shifted from their previous position of opposing it after it was registered.
Uasu has been pushing for implementation of a Sh8.8 billion pay rise, which was delayed owing to a row with Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) since last November.
In March, SRC was to explain to court how it arrived at Sh8.8 billion yet university staff had put the figure at Sh13.8 billion.
The figure had been a major bone of contention, with unions insisting that the correct sum to implement the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is Sh13.8 billion.
UASU explained earlier in the year that tabulations put the cost of the CBA to Sh13.8 billion without pension but said they were ready to receive Sh8.8 billion and the balance can be paid out later due to harsh economic times.
The CBA was signed in October last year and implementation was to start in November.
In February, lecturers shelved a planned strike to allow for the outcome of the court case.
Implementation was to start in November 2019 but was delayed because the government had not factored the pay rise in its current budget.
The money will benefit members of Uasu, Kenya University Staff Union and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions Hospital and Allied (Kudheiha).
