Teachers issue fresh threat to go on strike

Teachers have issued a fresh strike notice, this time demanding more than Sh40 billion for promotions, recruitment and allowances negotiated 15 years ago.

In the two-month notice, the Kenya National Union of Teachers wants the government to release Sh4 billion for teacher promotions, Sh15.2 billion to hire another 40,000, Sh5 billion to employ 24,000 early childhood development teachers, and Sh700 million for training.

It also wants agreements made through legal notice 534 of 1997 granting them 50 per cent of basic salary for housing, 20 per cent medical cover and 10 per cent as commuter allowance, amounting to Sh21 billion, to be honoured.

The government raised basic pay, hardship and special schools allowances last year after a strike that paralysed learning for three weeks.

Two weeks ago, teachers issued a strike notice over scrapping of hardship allowances in some areas and a freeze on promotions.

But last week Knut chairman Wilson Sossion said the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had agreed to restore the hardship allowance and to promote P1 teachers.

He said the Treasury had also released Sh6.4 billion for pensions, a move that might have compelled the union to shelve its earlier strike notice, which expired Monday.

“Our earlier demands were small but the government failed to meet them in full. We are now making bigger demands and warn of stern action should they not be met in two months.”

The government released ShSh273 billion for the Education ministry for the next financial year, with Sh130 billion going to free education and Sh143 billion to the TSC for teachers’ salaries.

Mr Sossion said the TSC had informed them that the money was not enough for teachers’ promotion. But he insists that teachers’ rights and dues are not negotiable.

Acting Knut secretary general Xavier Nyamu said the Treasury still had time to revise the budget to include teachers’ proposals.