Lecturers have threatened to go on strike again on Wednesday next week saying the government has failed to honour a Return to Work Formula (RTWF) signed in September.

The deal struck on September 26 promised to award members allied to the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union between seven and 10 per cent salary increments effective October.

The unions agreed to call off their initial strike and sign the deal following negotiations brokered by the Ministry of Labour.

The pay hike was for the remainder of the two years of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and was to be effected from July 1, 2023.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday at the Uasu offices, Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said the government had backtracked on the deal to pay their basic salaries and incorporate the seven to 10 per cent hikes.

“Let the public know we are not going to shy away to call another strike next week. And I want to invite you [the media] next week Wednesday come here to get the direction from the union,” Wasonga said.

“If they do not implement this CBA by midnight Tuesday [next week] just come here, I will be here.”

The unions first went on strike on September 11 before the Labour Ministry played mediator leading to the signing of the return-to-work formula on September 26.

Wasonga called on their union members to prepare for a long-drawn strike and pour onto the streets yet again once he directed them to do so saying the government has refused to hold the end of their bargain.

“And this time once I call our members out, they will only go back once the money hits their bank accounts. Don’t try us,” Wasonga warned.

Negotiations for the 2021-2025 CBA have dragged on for years since the unions tabled their proposals on September 4, 2020.

Following the negotiated agreement in September, pay for assistant lecturers was to range from Sh107,872 to Sh166,072 while professors were to pocket a minimum of between Sh224,631 to Sh345,816.

Minimum pay for graduate assistants was to range from a minimum of Sh63,647 to a maximum of Sh97,988.

“Today is Tuesday, by next Tuesday, universities should have given our members the new payslips with 7-10 per cent factored,” Wasonga said.