Lecturers in public universities have threatened to go on strike once again, over delayed negotiations between them and their employer over the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The lecturers have through their union, University Academic Staff Union (UASU), raised concern over failure by the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) to adhere to their previously agreed return-to-work formula dated December 9, 2017.

UASU has particularly protested a decision by IPUCCF to push the start of negotiations from January 10 to January 15, saying it’s in total disregard of the return-to-work formula signed on December 9.

The IPUCCF letters reveal a lack of commitment to the agreed CBA negotiation calendar and show an intention to dishonour the clear provisions of the parties’ return-to-work formula in violation of Kenya’s Labour laws and the ILO Convention,” said UASU secretary general Constantine Wasonga Wasonga.

Wesonga further warns in a protest letter to IPUCCF that its actions are likely to provoke another strike.

“UASU promotes industrial harmony and it would be extremely unfortunate if actions by IPUCCF provoke a fresh round of industrial unrest from February 2018,” Wasonga said.

Last year the university dons downed their tools for 54 days, in a strike that paralyzed learning in public universities.

The university lecturers called off the strike after the government through the Inter Public Universities Consultative Council Forum (IPUCCF) awarded them a 17.5 and 3.9 per cent increment on basic salary and house allowances respectively.