The High Court has barred 5,000 employees of the University of Eldoret from continuing their strike to demand implementation of Sh86 million enhanced salaries.
Justice J.N. Abuodha issued an injunction stopping the employees who have been on strike since last week over the delayed CBA for 2017-21
Uasin Gishu union chapter chairman for the university Phillip Chebunet said lecturers and other employees would not return to work until their grievances are resolved.
The court order follows a case filed by the university management against unions representing the workers. The university has more than 5,000 workers who are to benefit from the CBA if it is implemented.
The university headed by Vice Chancellor Prof Teresia Akenga sued the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Education Institutions and Hospital Workers (UoE Chapter), the Kenya Universities Staff Union and Uasu.
“An order is issued restraining the respondents or their agents from taking part, calling, instigating or inciting others to take part in an unprotected strike at the petitioner’s institution," the justice ordered.
The case will be mentioned on April 4.
He said the workers had been picketing because the university management had refused to implement the CBA despite signing and committing to do so.
“What we want is continuous enhancement of our salaries through the pay slips as agreed in the CBA," Chebunet said. He said the university had been paying workers part of the money through vouchers, which he termed illegal.
Police have been deployed at the university since last week because of the strike which has paralysed all operations at the institution, including learning.
The workers including lecturers and other support staff have been demanding in vain to be addressed by Akenga.
