Kenyan gov't in talks to end university lecturer strike

Kenya's ministry of education on Thursday had a meeting with key stakeholders in the education sector to discuss modalities of ending a week-long strike by university lecturers.

Education Minister Fred Matiang'i said in a statement that negotiations to end the strike by university teaching and non-teaching staff had gathered steam.

Lecturers and subordinate workers in 33 public universities downed tools on Jan. 19, citing failure by the government to implement an agreement on salary hikes and better working conditions.

Unions representing university workers had earlier issued a one-week ultimatum for the government to implement the 2013-2017 comprehensive bargaining agreement in full or to face an industrial action.

Matiang'i said the meeting with unions and university administrators resolved to complete negotiations on higher perks for lecturers before the end of January and requested unions to suspend the strikes.

He added the government was committed to improving the welfare of universities' lecturers and casual workers through better remuneration and promotions.

"As a government, our goal is to ensure that salaries for university teaching and non teaching staff reflect the prevailing economic situation and are in line with international benchmarks," Matiang'i said.

source: Xinhua