Disband SRC, it has failed in its mandate — Uasu

The University and Academic Staff Union has called for the disbandment of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. 

The lecturers' union presented the proposal to the Building Bridges task force last Thursday.

The proposal has gained the backing of other trade unions. Kenya National Union of Teachers said the SRC has failed to discharge its core mandate of setting remuneration and benefits of state officers.

Uasu said employers and employees want to hold independent salary negotiations without involving a third party.

"Uasu considers that SRC has strayed from its original mandate of setting the salaries and benefits of state officers and should altogether be disbanded and converted to a statutory body, not a constitutional one," the union's document reads.

Uasu proposed that a university service commission is set up instead to manage academic staff workers.

Should the move be approved, university labour will be managed in the same way as primary and secondary schools. The Teachers' Service Commission hires tutors and manages their affairs.

The USC will be responsible for bargaining with trade unions, recruitment of chancellors, vice chancellors and deputy vice chancellors, and principals of public universities and colleges.

If carried it will take away the power to make such appointments from the Education Cabinet Secretary, who picks VCs from a list of candidates interviewed by university councils.

The commission will be under the Education ministry and will be the single agency responsible for higher education matters.

"Uasu proposes that for the appointment of vice chancellors, the university council shall present three names of distinguished academicians to the University Service Commission," the document reads.

The union further proposed creation of a powerful prime minister and deputy prime ministers posts. It suggested that some Cabinet secretaries be picked from elected legislators.

The proposal noted that the current political system does not facilitate power sharing and has contributed to polarisation and ethnicity.

The PM should be picked from the party with the majority in the House, Uasu proposed.

"Creating the position of PM would shift some of the powers vested in the President to Parliament and further facilitate power sharing among communities through a judicious appointment of some MPs to the Cabinet," the document reads.

The academicians further want corruption declared a national disaster and those found guilty to face life imprisonment.

The union said the current criminal justice system is inefficient in tackling crime and corruption. "The court system is slow and clogged with cases as the corrupt continue to thrive," the document reads.

Proposed Structure:

Education ministry, University Service Commission, Chancellor, University Council, VCs, DVCs, Principals of Colleges, Deputy Principals, Deans/Directors, Chairpersons of Departments.