Knut delegates called to approve salary row strike
Knut Chairman Mudzo Nzili (left) and Secretary-General Wilson Sossion at a press conference in Nairobi on September 11, 2014. The Kenya National Union of Teachers Wednesday refused to confirm if it had enough money to pay members if the nationwide strike persists. FILE PHOTO | JENNIFER MUIRURI |
What you need to know:
- Wilson Sossion said the top decision-making organ of the union had agreed on a teachers strike but the proposal will have to be ratified by the delegates.
- He said teachers are underpaid and it amounted to punishment and slavery.
Teachers have announced that national delegates will meet to approve a decision to go on strike after the government failed to increase their salaries and allowances.
The annual delegates conference will take place on December 9 in Nairobi.
Knut Secretary-General Wilson Sossion, speaking on Wednesday after the national executive council meeting, said the top decision-making organ of the union had agreed on a teachers strike but the proposal will have to be ratified by the delegates.
“We have come to a conclusion that the government is reluctant and non-committal, and is dragging its feet on the issue of pay talks. We will be tabling the proposal for endorsement so that we can have a national strike,” said Mr Sossion.
He said teachers are underpaid and it amounted to punishment and slavery.
“We registered a return-to-work agreement and deposited it at Industrial Court last year and we were supposed to have addressed the issues within 90 days, but here we are, more than a year later,” said Mr Sossion.
He accused the government of employing delay tactics so as to postpone the negotiations. Knut, he said, had attended 24 meetings without any success.
Mr Sossion said on Thursday next week teachers will be attending yet another meeting called by the government to address their concerns.
The secretary-general said the union was opposed to any attempt to have job evaluation for teachers, saying they will not accept it.
“We are also asking the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to keep off the salary talks. The government is using the SRC, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and the Ministry of Education to scuttle the talks,” claimed Mr Sossion.
Knut Chairman Mudzo Nzili said patriotism by teachers should not be taken to mean cowardice and fear.
Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori said the union’s annual delegates conference will be also be held in December to give the members direction.
“The government is not serious and seems to be playing games with teachers,” said Mr Misori.
On Monday, the government only offered a comprehensive medical cover to teachers. The contract has been given to AON Minet.
