UASU Grapple with Salary Delays, Calls Staff to Boycott Lectures
An educational crisis is creeping up in public universities as teaching and non-teaching staff have yet to receive their March salaries.
Dr. Constantine Wasonga, secretary-general of the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu), has asked members to stay out of lecture halls until they receive their salaries.
In the majority of universities, dons have begun to boycott lectures, while others have resorted to teaching virtually because they cannot afford travel expenses.
Mr. Philip Chebunet, secretary of the University of Eldoret Uasu chapter, stated that the majority of professors have turned to online classes because they cannot afford to travel to the institutions.
Mr. Chebunet stated that lecturers were demoralized due to delays in the release of capitation, and as a result, many had resorted to teaching virtually, with the exception of part-time lecturers. He further added that the delays also resulted in universities failing to remit statutory deductions, leading to heavy penalties for lecturers by banks.
He questioned the decision made by public universities to pay salaries with internal funds rather than Exchequer funds.
“Teachers under Teachers Service Commission (TSC) are not paid using school fees, but with capitation. So we also wonder why the government allows universities to pay salaries using the students’ fees. This is wrong as we want our salaries to be paid through capitation,” added Mr Chebunet.
The Uasu chapter chair at Moi University, Dr. Richard Okero, stated that the majority of lecturers have begun to boycott lectures.
On Tuesday, Dr. Okero reported that they had engaged the management on Monday and were informed that the management was still waiting for capitation from the Exchequer. Dr. Okero further stated that they had advised their members not to facilitate themselves to teach until they had received their salaries.
After making arrangements with local financial institutions, he claimed that five additional universities had paid their employees’ salaries by last Friday.
Travel restrictions
Mr. Ojuki Nyabuta, the Moi University chapter’s organizing secretary, stated in a letter to its members that most professors find it difficult to travel to the institution.
He said that, considering the unique geographical situation at Moi University and the stress associated with struggling to get to work, they wished to call for the members’ resolution to stay away from the workplace until payment of salary had been effected. He also mentioned that this was the position of the national office, as communicated to them.
Mr. Nyabuta stated that the inability of workers to travel to and from the workplace, coupled with their other financial responsibilities, is indicated by this, and it in no way implies any form of industrial action. He further explained that staff are also unable to bridge finances for transport to the university, as they are already listed in credit reference bureaus due to non-remittance by the university.
Following last month’s salary delays, Uasu officials from the organization demanded to be paid by the third of every month or they would stop working.
UASU Grapple with Salary Delays, Calls Staff to Boycott Lectures
