University workers down tools

Kisii University workers affiliated to three trade unions downed their industrial tools citing non implementation of internal collective bargaining agreement (CBA) by the employer.

The workers who protested in the university premises and were members of KUSU,UASU and KUDHEIA vowed not to resume duty until the dispute was resolved.

According to the officials of the trade unions, Kisii  was the only  university  that had failed to offer a counter proposal or honour the entire  2013-2017 CBA.

Dr. Marktosh Onwong’a, UASU secretary general claimed there were pending issues in the disputed CBA which the workers demanded to be addressed.

He further alleged the unions had written to the university council and management severally petitioning them to  listen  to  the workers’ grievances in vain.

Onwong’a said the workers questioned the KU queue system criteria in effecting promotions unlike its counterparts.

The SG conveyed the worker’s concerns on non increment of allowances by the employer owing to changing economic times.

Moses Nyandusi, KUSU SG  said the workers were being harassed and intimidated  through show cause letters by the university administration whenever they  demanded  for their rights to be respected.

He hinted of an underway conflict resolution meeting with stakeholders  to brake the impasse  even as the service boycott continued.