‘Monday payday’ as Kenya National Union of Teachers counts strike cost

Updated Friday, July 19th 2013 at 21:33 GMT +3

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

KENYA: Teachers, starved of cash after their June pay was withheld for three weeks during their nationwide strike, will receive their salaries on Monday. The Teachers Service Commission on Friday said it would pay some 278,000 members of the Kenya National Union of Teachers first thing next week.

Knut officials secured a commitment TSC would not deduct any pay for days not worked as part of a deal to resume duty. During a meeting at State House, Nairobi, President Uhuru Kenyatta reportedly asked TSC officials to ensure the deal with Knut is honoured.

This emerged as Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi ordered public schools reopened, after the Government announced an indefinite closure on Wednesday as the teacher’s strike wore on. A high level stakeholder’s meeting is scheduled on Tuesday to discuss term dates and how lost time will be recovered, said Kaimenyi, communicating the decision reached after the State House meeting.

Knut agreed to end its strike on Wednesday, hours after the State’s drastic action, allowing millions of children to return to classes after 23 days with no school. The union agreed to take a deal similar to that offered to the rival Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers ( Kuppet) instead of holding out for the larger increase they had wanted. The move brought to an end a standoff with the Government that reached boiling point after President Kenyatta flatly rejected a key demand by the union to raise house allowances for all teachers to 50 per cent of basic pay.

On Friday, details emerged on how the State broke down the strike (see related story). Authorities speeded up a deal with Kuppet, which though representing fewer members (47,000), was keen to paint the impression of a split among teachers. TSC went on to release salaries for secondary school teachers.

But the Government was also aware that only a deal with Knut would end the turmoil in the public education sector. Reports of defections by disgruntled Kuppet members, after Kuppet on July 5 signed the deal Knut dismissed as inferior, only hardened Knut’s resolve. Then authorities resorted to more drastic measures, including TSC reinstating the contempt of court proceedings against Knut officials for defying a July 1 court order to call of the strike. TSC asked the Industrial Court to jail Knut national chairman Wilson Sossion and secretary general Mudzo Nzili for six months.

Auctioning of Knut property should the union fail to pay a Sh20 million fine and deductions of Sh10, 000 for every teacher were other sanctions sought.

TSC also started registering unemployed teachers to replace their striking counterparts. Finally, the closure of public primary schools would have meant striking teachers would have gone without salaries for three months.

“It was getting hostile from the ground,” said a member of Knut steering committee. “Teachers were not going to allow us do this if they were not sure of the outcome.”

Audience with Ruto

That explains why Sossion and Nzili sought audience with Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday afternoon when word about the closure got out.

Meanwhile, the ruling of the contempt of court case was due on Monday at the Industrial Court. A possible unfavourable ruling sent officials into panic.

“Knut has its elections coming up in December,” explained another union official. “The effect of the (unfavorable) ruling would see the two officials locked out of the elections and this would potentially end their careers.”

He added: “Even though this would have sparked protests from the teachers countrywide, it would have slowed down the strike substantially.” Withdrawal of the case is among the issues Knut canvassed to end the strike.

According to the return-to-work formula seen by The Standard On Saturday, Knut and the Government have agreed to begin negotiations within seven days under the Consultative Committee on Terms and Conditions of Service.

Parties shall agree on and obtain registration of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as required by law within 90 days.

Details of package

The Sh16.8 billion deal will see teachers get commuter allowance paid in two phases, a reduction from the three negotiated by Kuppet. The document indicates that the current lowest paid teacher in Job group G takes home Sh1,001 in house allowance. However, this will rise to Sh2,501 effected on July 1 for the first phase. The amount will rise to Sh4,000 in July 2014. The cost implication of this will be a raise from the current Sh1.3 billion to Sh5.3 billion next year.

And the highest paid teacher of job group R, who receives Sh4,410 on commuter allowance, will this year take home Sh10,205 effective July 1. This will rise to Sh16,000 in July next year. The agreement commits the teachers’ employer to fully harmonise commuter allowance and implement a 100 per cent increment of the current responsibility allowance. TSC will also effect special school allowance to teachers in special schools at a flat rate of Sh10,000 per month.

The signatories to the deal are Lengoiboni, Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi and union officials.