By Francis Ontomwa
A fresh battle pitting the country’s top two teachers’ unions against each other has emerged over slots in the yet to be constituted Teachers Service Commission(TSC) Consultative Committee on Salaries.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) is accusing the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) of angling for all the five slots reserved for teachers unions with a view to lock out Kuppet.
Knut had been given four slots while Kuppet one, and the development has forced Kuppet to now press for two slots.
Nixon Amendi, executive secretary Kuppet Vihiga County, accused Knut of creating an unnecessary stalemate, adding the union will push for its rightful place in the education sector. “It is a bad attitude coming from our brothers and sisters in Knut and we want to put it clear that Kuppet must sit in the committee to negotiate for Kenyan teachers,” said Mr Amendi.
The TSC consultative committee brings on board, employer TSC, teacher unions and officials from the ministries of Education and Labour with a mandate to come up with a Collective Bargaining Agreement for teachers’ salaries.
Kuppet is demanding that Knut respects their place in the teachers’ struggle and allow them to participate in the talks.
Knut National Executive Council member John Wesonga, who is also the executive secretary of Kakamega County, said Knut was the only teachers’ body that was justified to sit in the committee given its numerical strength.
have muscle
Mr Wesonga argued that out of the 300,000-plus teachers the union commands over 280,000, giving them an edge over Kuppet.
“We have the numbers and to sit in that committee you have to have the muscle, how many teachers does Kuppet represent?” posed Wesonga.
Kakamega County TSC director Janet Onyango, however, said the commission recognises both unions.
“We are aware of the bad blood between the two unions but what we appeal for is teamwork to enable easy fronting of teacher issues,” said Mrs Onyango.
