KNUT issues strike notice over terms

Written By:Sylvester Ruto,    Posted: Tue, Aug 30, 2011

KNUT is demanding that the 18,000 teachers to be employed must be hired on permanent basis The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has threatened to call a countrywide strike if funds meant for hiring 18 000 contracted teachers are redirected to the Ministry of Defence. The union which led teachers in a protest march to Parliament Tuesday claims it has information that Parliament's Budget Committee had recommended that the funds be withdrawn from the Ministry of Education budget. Addressing the press before the protest started, KNUT chairman Wilson Sosion said that they have already issued a seven day ultimatum to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to immediately employ teachers on permanent basis or face a strike. He said that the union has invited the Labour Ministry to intervene in the matter that is likely to cause a crisis ahead of schools resuming from the August holidays next week.