Teachers in public schools were set to go on strike from
midnight on Monday, as their top organ declared a nationwide work
boycott over unpaid allowances.
Describing it as ‘the father of all strikes’, Kenya
National Union of Teachers Chairman (KNUT) Wilson Sossion said they
would not go back to class until a Collective Bargain Agreement signed
in 1997 was implemented to cover medical, commuter and housing
allowances.
He accused the government of having misplaced priorities by according
the ‘free’ laptop project more funds which were unnecessary.
“This National Executive Council has hereby resolved that the
nationwide strike of teachers commence. Will as many as are of this
opinion say Aye; and will as many as are of the contrary opinion say
Nay… the Ayes have it!” he declared.
KNUT Secretary General Xavier Nyamu urged teachers in public schools
to start handing over their duties to their respective head teachers
from Monday afternoon.
“We are asking the government to reorganise itself so that teachers
are paid all their dues in total and we are not in any position to
negotiate with anybody. There is no office we have not gone. We have
even been given a certificate of disagreement,” he stated.
He further called on parents to take their children away from school starting Tuesday as no learning will be taking place.
“We want automatic house allowance of 50 percent as agreed in legal notice 534,” he said.
The union had suspended proposed strike action in February after negotiations appeared to bear fruit.
“We observe with concern that to date, the commission has refused,
ignored and neglected to sign the agreement. Thereafter, on 20th
February 2013, the commission and the KNUT commenced conciliatory
meetings under section 69 of the Labour Relations Act 2007.”
He recalled that the union’s efforts to find a way forward did not bear any fruit.
“In spite of all our attempts to persuade the commission to sign the
agreement, to pave way for an amicable solution, the Teachers Service
Commission (TSC) remained intransigent, leaving the conciliator with no
other option but to issue a certificate of disagreement on 7th March
2013,”he said.
President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto have been urging the
teachers to give a dialogue a chance and call off the intended
industrial action.
On Sunday, President Kenyatta once again urged the teachers and other
public workers clamouring for enhanced salaries and allowances to give
dialogue a chance.
President Kenyatta reassured that the government acknowledged the
noble role teachers play in teaching and moulding children and would
therefore remain committed to improving on their welfare.
He made it clear that the government was willing and ready to negotiate with the teachers.
Saying the government cannot meet all the enhanced salary demands for
its workers at once, the Head of State emphasised the need for all
Kenyans to play their roles effectively to grow the economy and support
increased expenditures.
KNUT arrived at the decision during its National Delegates Conference on Monday.
The union has been holding nationwide meetings to prepare its members for the strike.
Meanwhile, the rival Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers
(KUPPET) says it will mobilise it membership to hold demonstrations even
as the top leadership of the union engages with the government.
Milemba said they will be pushing to given Sh20.8 billion but added
they are prepared to settle for Sh14 billion as their minimum package......Source Cpital FM
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