Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) secretary general Xavier Nyamu during a news conference at Knut headquarters on the February 6, 2013. Knut told its members to be ready “for any eventuality” if the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) does not release allowances immediately. To the left is Knut chairman Wilson Sossion. EMMA NZIOKA
By AGGREY MUTAMBO amutambo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, February 7 2013 at 11:27
Posted Thursday, February 7 2013 at 11:27
The teachers’ union has told its members to be ready “for any eventuality” if the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) does not release allowances immediately.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) officials said a meeting with TSC to resolve the issue of allowances failed to reach a solution and that the Commission asked for time to consult.
But Knut stand-in secretary general Xavier Nyamu said the union had given the Commission five days to resolve the matter or else teachers will down tools.
“We are asking all teachers to prepare for any eventuality because the Knut and the government entered into an agreement that whatever decision the Parliamentary Select Committee arrives at, both parties shall be bound,” he said at a press conference Wednesday.
“It is not that teachers like demanding for money, it is the government which is taking us in circles.”
The union is demanding that the Commission pays Sh25 billion in annual allowances (housing, commuter and medical) commuted in the ratios of 50 per cent, 10 per cent and 20 per cent of teachers’ basic pay respectively.
This was part of a deal the government reached with Knut in 1997. However, a legal notice published to effect the pay (no 534 of 1997) was countered with another (no 16 of 2003) to reduce the payments.
Teachers contested the legality of the 2003 notice until last year in September when they went on strike for three weeks paralysing operations in public schools.
The industrial action was resolved when the government agreed to pay teachers Sh13.5 billion in basic salary but left out the allowances which were a matter before a parliamentary select committee then.
“If teachers were to earn their salaries correctly, then it means they have missed out on over Sh600 billion,” claimed Knut chairman Wilson Sossion.
“But of now, we are being fair and we are asking them to implement that pay from January 2013.”
On Wednesday, TSC disagreed with the union over whether the allowances should be paid immediately, especially after the select committee tabled a report in parliament last month indicating that the legal notice of 2003 was illegal.
The Commission argued during the meeting that it would be difficult to implement the pay since the 2003 notice had not been degazetted by the Education Minister.
“As of the legality of the notice, we are not discussing with anybody because parliament already dealt with it. We are asking TSC to organise their house and tell us when they will pay us by Monday,” said Mr Sossion.
“If not, we will call the NEC (National Executive Council) which will put in the necessary legal action including an in industrial action.”
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