Nyamira Knut branch officials support calls for national teachers’ strike

Officials of the Nyamira branch of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) have voiced support for calls for a national teachers’ strike.

Led by National Assistant Treasurer John Matiang’i, the unionists said the welfare of teachers had not been fully considered.

A delegates’ conference on Saturday announced plans for the strike beginning Monday January 5.

Knut delegates’ conference is the supreme decision-making organ whose resolution is final and binding.

Speaking in Borabu, Nyamira County, yesterday, Matiang’i said teachers have always struggled in their quest for better working terms and that was going to change as Knut was now energised and ready to exercise its mandate.

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion on Saturday told a press conference in Nairobi that the Government had failed to honour previous agreements made after signing a return to work formula on July 18, 2013.

He said no teacher will be on duty when schools re-open in two weeks’ time unless the Government responds to its demands.

Consider plea

Mr Sossion said TSC failed to honour its pledges even after teachers obeyed a court order directing them to return to work when the Government promised to consider their plea.

Matiang’i said the Government had intentionally delayed the negotiations.

“Teachers are demanding a salary increase of about 150 per cent down from 300 per cent, and commuter allowances that match those of civil servants at 10 per cent of the basic pay. We wonder why the Government doesn’t want to listen to our pleas,” said Matiangi.

He accused the Salaries and Remuneration Commission of being an impediment to their pursuit for better terms of employment and urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and solve the impending learning crisis.

“Teachers are living in deplorable conditions. The Government has to meet our union demands. Teachers are not lesser beings and we cannot be disadvantaged because of our numbers,” said Matiang’i.

In October, Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi called on teachers to reconsider their planned strike’ saying the Government was working to see their demands are addressed.