UASU seeks to reverse Moi University’s decision to lay off employees
Top officials from the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Moi University Chapter have requested that the institution reverse its decision to lay off workers to allow for a stakeholder meeting.
Busolo Wekesa, Chairman of the UASU chapter, said it was wrong for the university administration to take such action without consulting all stakeholders.
Wekesa, speaking to the media in Eldoret town, chastised Moi University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kosgey’s management for surprising union members with the redundancy notice.
“The university management should understand that declaring redundancy to members of staff comes with its own consequences, including compensation to the laid-off workforce,” said Wekesa.
The UASU chapter chairman, Richard Okero, claimed that management refused to recognize the workers’ union after it was revealed that more than 2,500 employees out of the over 5,000 university employees were slated for downsizing.
“It is unfortunate that the university’s top management has totally refused to recognize us as representatives of the teaching staff at the institution.“
"Whenever they deliberate and come up with a decision on a crucial matter affecting the university, we are never involved,’’ said Okero.
The union leadership was reacting to a redundancy notice issued by Moi University to the workers through their union, a move that has caused concern among the institution’s teaching and non-teaching staff.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Kosgey, stated that the redundancy notice was issued to the staff as a result of the university’s financial constraints, which have been affecting it for years.
In a July 4 memo to the UASU chapter secretary, the institution’s vice-chancellor stated that the tertiary institution has been struggling to stay afloat and is unable to sustain its growing wage bill.
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The memo read in part, “As you are aware, the university has been facing difficulties in meeting its wage bill obligations.
"Over the years, the university wage bill has been increasing, currently taking up over 70 percent of the capitation from the exchequer.”
UASU seeks to reverse Moi University’s decision to lay off employees