Teachers pay talks collapse yet again

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) boardroom turned into a floor of deceit as the Government and the two teachers' unions played 'cat and mouse' games during talks to review teachers salaries and allowances.

A source at the meeting said Friday's talks were a smoke screen: "Behind the curtains talks had concluded that the meeting would end acrimoniously to buy time. The unions had known nothing concrete would arise," said the source.

The Government insisted teachers' salaries had been reviewed to match that of civil servants. But the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) insisted that a counter offer be tabled to kick start negotiations.

Having failed to agree, the Government asked for two weeks to table an offer even as Kuppet said it will seek legal redress. The next meeting is scheduled for October 31.

"Our fears have been confirmed. We shall move to court to be treated with some little respect," said Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori.

A document tabled by the TSC says the basic salary for teachers had already been harmonised with those of civil servants with effect from July 1, 2012.

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The Government seems to have changed tune on teachers' demands, even with reports that a secret deal of Sh50 billion had been tabled in previous meetings and later withdrawn.