• Workers' unions, including Uasu protested against the court order, saying they were not striking but picketing to push for approved pay.
• Uasu chairman at the university Phillip Chebunet accused VC Professor Teresia Akenga of high-handedness, making unilateral decisions.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
The University of Eldoret has locked out more than 5,000 striking lecturers and support staff demanding Sh86 million enhanced salary in a delayed CBA.
Unions representing the workers including UASU have protested against the move, arguing they were not strike but were picketing to push for the payments.
Uasu chairman at the university Phillip Chebunet accused VC Professor Teresia Akenga of high handedness and making unilateral decisions.
He said the university had deployed more than 50 armed police officers inside the institution and locked its gate to deny entry to the lecturers and other workers.
“The VC has been displaying a lot of arrogance in running the university and that is why we have bad relations between the management and the workers," Chebunet said.
He said the workers were simply picketing peacefully and were not destructive or violent to warrant them being locked out.
On Thursday, the High Court in Eldoret barred employees of the University of Eldoret from going on with the strike or protesting within the institution.
Justice Nelson Abuodha of the Employment and Labour Relations Court issued an injunction stopping the employees who have been on strike since last week over the delayed CBA for 2017-21.
The order followed a case filed by the university management against unions representing the workers. More than 5,000 workers will benefit from the CBA if it is implemented.
The university has sued the unions. including the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Education Institutions and Hospital Workers (UoE Chapter), 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,” justice Abuodha ruled.
He ordered the case mentioned on April 4.
Chebunet said they would also sue over violation of their rights.
He said they were demanding more than Sh86 million in approved enhanced salaries through implementation of the CBA.
The university management, he said had refused to implement the CBA despite signing 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 the workers part of the money through vouchers, which he termed illegal.
The workers including lecturers and other support staff have been demanding to be addressed by Professor Akenga, who has declined to meet them.
The court has now ordered the striking workers be served with the court orders that take effect until the matter is heard inter-parties.
“The CBA has to be implemented so workers get what is rightfully theirs so they can also continue to offer their services effectively,"Chebunet said. He said they would not accept piecemeal implementation of the CBA.
The VC declined to comment on the matter because it was being handled by the court.
(Edited by V. Graham)