Salaries team rules out talks with teachers

Salaries team rules out talks with teachers Written By:Simon Achola,    Posted: Thu, Aug 23, 2012

The commission chair Sarah Serem said the commission's mandate ends at formulation of mechanisms for equitable remunerations based on equal task and value The stage is set for a bruising battle between the government and teachers over salary dispute. This is after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission gave a categorical NO to any possibility of it sitting down with the teachers union to discuss their demands for salary increment. The commission chair Sarah Serem said the commission's mandate ends at formulation of mechanisms for equitable remunerations based on equal task and value. Finance minister Njeru Githae had thrown the ball to the commission's court three days ago saying it was the only body mandated under the constitution to review salaries for public servants. Speaking during the launch of the job evaluation for state and constitutional office bearers, Serem ruled out talks with the teachers, an assertion that compels the government to look for other options of averting a crisis in the education sector come September 3rd when schools open for third and final term. Meanwhile, another teachers' union- Kenya Union of Post Primary Education has issued a countrywide teachers strike beginning 5th of next month. KUPPET says the strike has been necessitated by the government's failure to honour the 2009 salary harmonization agreement. Addressing the press on Thursday,  Kuppet Secretary General, Akelo Misorri said the  industrial action   is now the only option left to force the  government honour the agreement.  Kuppet demands also include a salary increment by 100 percent as well as commuter and better house allowances. On Sunday, KNUT announced that it would mobilise a national strike for teachers beginning September 3 to pressurize the government to honour its pledge. KNUT has warned that it will disrupt the opening of schools in September unless the government starts negotiations on a 300 percent pay increase for teachers and fulfils a deal reached way back in 1997.