Unions reject draft Bill on salaries

Anthony Omuya | NATION
Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli addresses workers’ representatives in Nairobi on Sunday. Government workers’ unions have opposed a decision that allows only Cotu to choose a representative on the Remuneration Commission.

What you need to know:

  • Teachers, civil servants and varsity dons oppose proposal to leave pay talks in Remuneration Commission’s hands

The Kenya National Union of Teachers is among three workers’ organisations that have rejected a draft Bill on how salaries will be determined under the new Constitution.

Unions representing teachers, civil servants and university lecturers, with a membership of about 400,000, said they were against a proposal that mandates the Salaries Remuneration Commission to fix and review public service salaries.

Instead, they want the commission to follow existing procedures, which involve unions.

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission Bill 2000 was introduced to the key unions about two weeks ago.

But the unions are unhappy that the law only allows the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) to choose a representative on the commission.

Knut, the Union of Kenya Civil Servants, Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers and the Universities Academic Staff Union are not affiliated to Cotu.

Knut secretary-general Lawrence Majali said the provision would shut his union out of the negotiations.

“We want the new commission to recognise our role under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as is the case currently,” he said.

Mr Majali said TSC was a constitutional commission whose existing structures must be respected and salaries should continue being negotiated through the Teachers Service Remuneration Committee.

According to the Bill, the proposed commission will set and review salaries and benefits for State officers.

It will also advise the national and county governments on salaries.

Kuppet secretary general Njeru Kanyamba backed Mr Majali, saying the Bill must be reviewed to “bring us on board”.

“We are unhappy that the person to represent workers will be chosen by the umbrella union, which does not represent public servants,” he said.

He said Cotu was unlikely to nominate a candidate from Knut, Kuppet, or Uasu.

UKCS secretary-general Tom Odege said: “If all these four unions are not represented, then who will Cotu stand for (in the commission)?”

He said “true” trade unions could not be excluded from salary negotiations.