BY VITALIS KIMUTAI
Another teachers’ union has announced a strike date to protest over salaries and allowances.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) yesterday said its members would down their tools on September 5, as schools re-open for third term.
“Having explored all avenues of engagement and noting with regret that neither the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) nor the Minister for Education has found it necessary to engage the union, Kuppet is resorting to industrial action,” Akello Misori, the union’s Secretary General announced.
The union is demanding a 100 per cent increase in salaries and allowances, which they said should have been factored in the budget presented to Parliament by Finance Minister Njeru Githae.
Mr Misori told a press conference at the union headquarters that all college and secondary school principals would not report to work when the institutions re-open.
“All county branch secretaries are to convene meetings with their school representatives by August 20,” Misori said. Misori was flanked by national chairman Omboko Milemba, national organising secretary Paul Maingi, vice-chairman Julius Korir, deputy treasurer Ronald Tonui, women representative Catherine Wambilianga, Edward Obwocha, and Sammy Chelanga, among others.
“Teachers cannot continue to beg the employer for salary increase when other civil servants have been awarded,” Milemba said.
Milemba said it was unconstitutional for the Government to sideline teachers in increment of salaries yet they played a crucial role in nurturing the country’s human resource.
“We are demanding the commuter and housing allowances for teachers be ratified as agreed in a deal signed between Kuppet and TSC in June 2009,” Milemba said.
Kuppet also wants Post-Graduate Diploma holders to be paid 40 per cent on top of their basic salary in recognition of their professional certificates.
The union had written to the Salaries Remuneration Commission, Ministry of Education Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Finance and TSC on the demands, but no reply was forthcoming.
Tonui and Obwocha said the responsibility allowances for Heads of Departments should be increased by 100 per cent.
“The hardship allowance should be pegged at 40 per cent of the actual salary paid by the employer,” Obwocha said.
Korir said the union was demanding tutors in Teacher Training colleges and Technical Training colleges are paid training, attachment and teaching practice allowances.
Wambilianga added teachers should be paid leave allowances equivalent to one month’s basic salary annually as is the case with other civil servants.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers has also demanded 300 per cent increment.
