TSC sets date for teachers’ pay talks

The Teachers Service Commission on Sunday stepped in to avert a planned teachers strike by inviting union leaders for talks on January 3.

TSC Secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni also appealed to teachers to embrace dialogue instead of issuing strike threats.

“As far as we are concerned, the talks on teachers demand are still on and there is room to agree on various issues,” Mr Lengoiboni told the Nation on phone.

Out of all the demands by teachers, the government has only managed to give teachers a comprehensive medical cover and a commuter allowance.

It has also insisted on job evaluation for teachers, a demand that has been rejected by Knut.

SALARIES TEAM

The government has held several unsuccessful meetings with teachers this year, all aimed at addressing their demands.

The Wednesday meeting has been convened under the auspices of the Committee on Terms and Conditions of Service which is a statutory body mandated to negotiate salaries for teachers and is chaired by Mr Joseph Obonyo.

TSC is represented by Mr Gabriel Lengoiboni, Knut by secretary general Wilson Sossion, Knut chairman Mudzo Nzili , Knut national treasurer Abanus Mutisya and Kuppet secretary general Akelo Misori and representatives of ministries of labour, public service, education and national treasury.

On Saturday, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) issued a seven day strike notice to the government, saying they have exhausted all avenues of negotiations.

The notice followed a resolution by the teacher’s annual delegates’ conference which directed them to stay away from schools on January 5 if the government will not have met their demands.

Mr Sossion said the union has held 26 meetings with TSC but it had not demonstrated any commitment to the talks.

“Please note that on the expiry of this notice, if no solution will have been found, all members of Knut shall commence the strike as directed by ADC,” said Mr Sossion in the notice that was copied to Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi and the TSC Secretary among others.

MOVE WITH SPEED

The Parliamentary Committee on Education waded into the debate and called on the government to move with speed and strike a deal with teachers.

Dr Wilbur Otichilo, a member of the committee, observed that even though the demands by teachers may not be tenable, it is important that the government tables its offer to allow negotiations to go on.
“We believe that if they sit together, they will be able to come up with an agreement,” said Dr Otichilo.

He said that strikes disrupt normal learning calendar and should be avoided.

However, Kenya Teachers and Parents Association chairman Nathan Barasa accused the teachers union of using strike threats to achieve their demand at the expense of children and parents.

Mr Barasa said that teachers should give negotiation a chance saying all avenues have not been exhausted.

“Teachers just want to disrupt education programmes and we fear that this may affect the transition of those joining Form One,” said the chairman. He observed that parents have invested heavily in the education of their children and it will be unfair for teachers to disrupt learning.

“TSC has been very willing to engage the teachers and therefore their leaders should stop their supremacy war because it is affecting our children,” said Mr Barasa.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education (Kuppet) has also warned of industrial action over salary talks but is yet to issue any strike notice.

Anglican Church of Kenya reverends Canon Sammy Wainaina and Paul Korir yesterday urged teachers withhold their planned strike and dialogue with the government.