We don't owe you membership dues, TSC tells teachers' union
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chairman Lydia Nzomo (left) with Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia at a press conference at the TSC head office in Nairobi on September 5, 2015. TSC, through its Head of Communications Kamotho Kihumba, on January 6, 2016, said it did not deduct union dues in October, November and December. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- TSC said it did not deduct union dues in October, November and December and asked Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) to seek the money from its members directly.
- He said the ongoing union membership validation had revealed massive irregularities, adding the audit will continue until the end of February.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) on Wednesday told teachers’ unions that it does not owe them membership dues even as it vowed to continue with a validation exercise that has been opposed by the unions.
TSC said it did not deduct union dues in October, November and December and asked Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) to seek the money from its members directly.
“We have no dues to remit to the teachers union since we did not deduct any,” said the commission’s Head of Communication, Mr Kamotho Kihumba.
He said the ongoing union membership validation had revealed massive irregularities, adding the audit will continue until the end of February.
“We started the exercise after complaints from members and even the unions,” said Mr Kihumba.
On Wednesday, Knut gave the commission seven days to remit their membership dues and stop the validation exercise.
“We demand for withdrawal of the said circular immediately and in any event within seven days submit withheld dues for October, November and December,” said Knut Secretary-General Wilson Sossion in a letter dated January 6 to TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia.
He went on: “The commission has no mandate and right in law to interfere with the register of members of any union.”
Mr Sossion said the union was scheduled to hold branch and national elections next month as directed by the Ministry of Labour.
