Teachers to go on strike over NHIF rates
Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion at a press conference on July 01, 2015. Teachers have rejected housing, hardship and leave allowances amounting to Sh9.3 billion, insisting that they will only sign the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) once the basic salary of 50-60 per cent awarded to them by the court was included. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The Knut Secretary General said sacking civil servants who are protesting the rates would only aggravate the situation.
- Member of the Kenya University Staff Union and the Dock Workers Union have gone on strike over the rates.
Teachers country-wide will join civil servants to protest the National Insurance Health Fund rates.
Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Mr Wilson Sossion on Friday Evening announced members will go on strike at a prize giving day at Eldama Ravine Primary Boarding School in Baringo County.
Mr Sossion, who is also the president of Trade Unions Congress said the only way to avert the looming strike is for the government to revert to the old rates.
“The government should also refund all the deductions it has effected since the rates were increased to Sh1700 per month failure to which we will paralyse all government functions including learning in schools,” he said.
The Knut Secretary General said sacking civil servants who are protesting the rates would only aggravate the situation.
Member of the Kenya University Staff Union and the Dock Workers Union have been on strike since Thursday.
Mr Sossion said dock workers have been threatened with the sack and dared Kenya Pipeline Authority to make good its threat.
“Dock workers should know that the entire civil service is supporting them and we will ensure that they are not victimised,” he said.
Mr Sossion said Knut had entered into a partnership with AON Minet to offer comprehensive medical cover to all its members.
He urged all teachers to sign for the cover regardless of whether the government will reduce the NHIF deduction or not.
Mr Sossion also said he had written a letter to Teachers Service Commission issuing a five-day notice for the commission to sign the new Collective Bargain Agreement in respect to the new salary increment awarded by the High Court.
