Drastic measures needed to avert strikes

As they promised, teachers have staged “the mother of all strikes” that has left the nation in a state of confusion. Emboldened by a Supreme Court ruling, teachers have been defiant and adamant in their demand for a pay increase as awarded by the courts. Judging from expressions from various individuals and groups, the teachers seem to have the support of a significant section of the populace. And why not? The teachers have been at this matter for decades. The only point of concern for many is the fate of millions of children in public schools, and especially KCPE and KCSE candidates, who have fallen victim to the work stoppage.

Yet, even as many rally in sympathy with teachers, the government equally has a legitimate argument against honouring the pay increase. As has been rightly argued, to raise the teachers’ salaries with such high percentages would open a Pandora’s Box that could spin the government remuneration structure out of control. Indeed, due to serious perceptions of inequity, many civil servants are keenly awaiting the outcome of the teachers’ strike. It is this dilemma that has placed the government between the rock and a hard place — and there are many who sympathise with the national leadership on the same.

What has been most worrying, however, is the manner the whole dispute has been or is being managed. Both the government and the unions have taken extreme and uncompromising positions. None has as much as opened a window for discussions to explore possible avenues for compromise. Whereas it is true that playing hardball is one of the accepted negotiation strategies in industrial disputes, in the current case it is definitely out of turn. Emotions are running high and the nation is being pushed into a state of serious uncertainty. This does not bode well for an economy that has received serious beating from various external factors. Both parties must therefore be told in no uncertain terms that whereas one group may eventually win the battle, the nation may in the process have lost a serious economic war. The long term interest of the nation must therefore be placed above interim considerations.

On the other hand, whatever the ultimate outcome of the current teachers’ strike, it is clear that unless and until we address the matter of perceptions of inequity among government workers, we are not likely to see an end to industrial unrest any time soon. This is a stark reality that still awaits us. As we have argued here before, and was recently echoed by a section of religious leaders, we need to come to terms with the remuneration structure in government, and the resulting wage bill.

With the advent of the new Constitution, there are myriads commissions and constitutional offices whose holders enjoy super salaries and allowances. Whereas the rationale may have been noble — to attract the best possible talent into these offices, and especially to stem the temptation to corruption — whether this has actually worked, only the Auditor General can confirm. Yet, this has had the side effect of creating perceptions of serious unfairness among government employees.

What is most unfortunate, however, is that the political elite appear completely oblivious to the realities that face this nation. It is unconscionable that at time when the government is singing itself hoarse how it cannot afford to pay teachers, politicians are scheming how to award sitting and retired members additional perks! It is as if they live in another country, and from a different planet. Truth be told, it is this same group that got us into the current quagmire, when they arm-twisted the Executive and overturned the Parliamentary and County Assembly pay structure that had been established by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

Considering the recent recommendation by IMF that the government should raise taxes in order to meet its financial obligations, it is clear that tough times await us ahead. This means that all of us must be ready to tighten our belts in order to save our beloved country. A comprehensive and radical review of the structure of government appears inevitable. Duplication of roles at county levels should be revisited and unnecessary commissions rested. State officers’ perks should be rationalised. We also need to soberly interrogate the viability of the size of our Parliament and county assemblies. This is what corporates do when they find themselves where the nation is currently at. Sentimentality will eventually let us down.