TSC, he explained, is willing to dialogue with the teachers, but that is only possible once the TSC Act is operational.
“The TSC Act was assented to by the President two days ago and so the necessary structures for meaningful negotiations are yet to be established,” read the letter.
It added that President Kibaki is also yet to constitute a selection panel to recruit the TSC chairman and members of the commission.
The letter is copied to Mr Kilonzo, acting head of Public Service, Francis Kimemia, Public Service Minister, Dalmas Otieno, and Education PS, George Godia.
The position echoes that of Kilonzo, who has insisted only TSC can address the teachers’ grievances, and that negotiations could only take place after the commission is restructured.
“Harmonisation (of salaries) cannot be done arbitrarily. There must be a process and the process was waiting for TSC Bill to become law. The President has already signed it into law. So they have an opportunity to use the law,” Mutula told The Standard.
Agreed upon
He added: “Let the teachers know the process that needs to be followed because they are threatening the wrong person. I am not their employer; TSC is, but we have not even recruited commissioners.”
Teachers are demanding a 300 per cent pay increment agreed with the Government in 1997, and which was to be paid in phases.
Knut and Kuppet vowed teachers would abandon classrooms next week at the beginning of the term in which national examinations are administered.
Knut Secretary General Okuta Osiany said the Government seems disinterested to engage with the unions. He warned them to take responsibility for any eventuality.
“No meeting. No nothing. They are not interested and teachers will go on with the strike,” he said.
