Members of Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) at Maasai Mara University have joined their colleagues in other public universities country wide to down their tools to push the government to increase their salaries.
Led by their Secretary Generals, the staff vowed not to relent on their demand for salary increment wondering why other government employees had received salary increment leaving them behind.
The branch UASU Secretary General Boniface Salambo called on the government to treat the University staff like any other civil servant alleging they were always forgotten when other employees were receiving salary increments.
“Our history is that we have to go on strike for us to start negotiating, and another strike for what we negotiated for to be implemented,” he said.
He observed that the cost of living had hiked for every Kenyan hence every worker should be treated equally by getting a fair salary increment.
“We are not workers of a lesser government. We all belong to one government and need to be treated equally. We wonder why the Salary and Remuneration Commission (SRC) is keeping a blind eye on us,” he said, reiterating that it will be a total shut down at the universities until their demands are met.
His KUSU counterpart Galfen Omuse said they decided to join their colleagues’ country wide because they want the welfare of the University staff addressed accordingly.
Omuse underscored the great role played by the University staff to nurture young adults who are just from Secondary school until they mature enough to handle the labour market.
“When we are handed over these youngsters from the secondary, we address all the challenges they face and nurture their talent. We ensure they are prepared for labour markets for a better country,” he reiterated.
“Maybe the only language the government listens to is strike. We will not report to our daily duties until our demands are met,” he said.
By Ann Salaton
