KNUT THREATENS

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has called on the government to fully implement the 60 percent teachers' salary increment with immediate effect. They have threatened to vote against the draft constitution if their demands are not met.

Addressing the press in Nairobi on Wednesday, the Union secretary general Lawrence Majali demanded that the agreement signed between the Teachers Service Commission TSC-and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers-KUPPET- early this month be rescinded terming it as a violation of the employment act.

He accused the Commission of using unethical methods to frustrate the Union, but stated that they will not be cowed in their pursuit of teachers' interests.

The move by KNUT comes a day before Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta reads the budget on Thursday.

Last month, the Kenya National Union of teachers threatened to mobilize its members for a strike this month over what it termed as the reluctance by the government to implement the 2009 salary increment.

The Union said the agreement stated that the government implements the remaining 60% pay hike this year following an earlier 40% increment in Phase One.

"This is tantamount to provocation by the Government. Teachers would not agree on the 40 per cent increase but 60 per cent. We want to hear Finance Minister himself tell us that teachers will not receive the 60 per cent," said Mr Majali.

Majali said the government had no excuse for not implementing the increment saying that the country's economy had recovered from the effects of the 2007-2008 post election violence.

"We had agreed that if the economy improved then the whole 60 per cent would be paid in full by July 1 this year. Why are they going back on their promise?" he posed.

The union was also protesting over a decision by the Teachers Service Commission to suspend study leave for teachers.

Knut is demanding that the minimum salary of a P2 teacher be pegged at Ksh 13,750 instead of Ksh13,037 per month. The maximum should be Ksh14,147 instead of Ksh13,795.

The basic salary of a P1 teacher Knut said should be at Ksh15,093 up from Ksh14,310 while the maximum should be Ksh17,527 instead of Ksh17,108.

Approved Teacher IV should earn Ksh17,208 instead of Ksh16,695 while the maximum should be Ksh20,289 instead of Ksh19,747 a month.

Approved Teacher III should earn a minimum of Ksh22,322 instead of Ksh21,165 while the maximum should be Ksh25,895 instead of Ksh24,863.

Majali said the minimum basic salary for Approved Teacher II should be KSh26,323 instead of Ksh24,691 while the maximum should be Ksh31,996 instead of Ksh30,490.

Currently public schools and colleges are facing a shortage of over 65000 teachers.