Knut accuses Salaries and Remuneration Commission of interference

The Kenya National Union of Teachers has expressed frustration with the Government in the ongoing salary negotiations.

Knut Chairman Mudzo Nzili and Secretary General Wilson Sossion claimed the Sarah Serem-led Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) was frustrating the talks.

The union warned they would issue a strike notice if the State did not table an acceptable pay offer for teachers on November 19.

"We are going on with negotiations but we are facing very hostile interference from SRC. We have held 24 meetings without any progress and teachers are getting impatient," Mr Nzili said.

The two were speaking at the funeral service for former Knut chairman Joseph Chirchir held at Litein High School in Kericho County.

Mr Sossion (pictured) said the commission's excuse that it was carrying out a careful study to rationalise the wage bill did not make sense to teachers.

"If SRC continues to frustrate teachers, they might be forced to back referendum campaigns seeking to scrap it," he said.

Nzili said teachers were unhappy that the Constitution was not being interpreted correctly by the State as far trade unions were concerned.

"The Government is trying to reduce Knut from a bargaining institution to a collective begging institution. But we want to see the Constitution, under Article 4, which gives us an opportunity to engage with the employer, observed.

"Therefore, the Government must create an enabling environment," he said.

HOUSE ALLOWANCE

Sossion said it was unacceptable for teachers to be paid Sh3,000 as house allowance and Sh15,000 as basic salary.

"If you deduct the 30 per cent tax, the take-home for the house allowance is Sh2,000 and you don't need to be a mathematician to know that when you pay a teacher Sh15,000, it translates to Sh500 a day. That is five dollars a day, and teachers are still expected to teach," he said.

Sossion also said the Government must employ enough teachers for all public schools across the country.

"The country still needs quality and well remunerated teachers because class enrollment is increasing every year. We still want to see an investment in quality teaching, learning tools and infrastructure," he said.

He also opposed the devolution of education, saying standards must be uniform across the country.