Lecturers and workers at the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) have paralyzed learning and operations as they begin their strike over unresolved emoluments that they want the management to fulfill.
They want harmonisation of payslip, payment of a two-month unpaid commuter allowance of 2020, timely remittances of statutory deductions and implementation of the 2017-2021 local Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) National Secretary General Dr Constantine Wesonga urged the staff to remain put as they engage the university management to resolve the outstanding issues.
“Once they convince me, or give me a convincing promise, or they wire the money as I am in the boardroom, I will tell you to go and work,” Dr Wesonga stated.
The SG noted that University communities are tired of perennial strikes. He urged the government to take full control of universities’ payrolls the same way it pays other public sector workers.
“We are only 30,000, the government can manage to pay university workers directly from the exchequer. So that the capitation they send to universities can only be used for operations and maintenance,” said Dr Wesonga.
“Civil servants are paid directly by the government, why are university workers being subjected to this embarrassment every month? We are not going to allow the university to wait for fees paid by students before they pay us,” he added.
He wants the university to pay the allowances that were increased in the local CBA as agreed.
The university management was further urged to sit down with TUM union leaders for amicable resolution of workers’ grievances to avert strikes.
UASU TUM Chapter SG Prof Odalo said their two months’ commuter allowance was withheld by the university management without consultation in contravention of the CBA.
“The two-month deduction must be reversed. You cannot and you will not use our money to renovate buildings. You will not and you shall not use our money to buy cars for yourselves; that is immoral and that is impunity of the highest order,” stated Prof Josiah Odalo.
By Sadik Hassan
