Job evaluation gimmick to distract teachers

The ongoing job evaluation being conducted by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) may not amount to much because the commission has decided to ignore the teachers’ unions.

While addressing teachers in Narok, SRC Chairperson Sarah Serem was at pains to explain why the unions have not been invited to their forums.

Despite spirited campaigns to sanitise the exercise, SRC has come out as a Tower of Babel.

While Serem is saying that the exercise will address the difference between the highest and lowest paid civil servant, her vice-chair Daniel Ogutu was saying in Kisumu that the exercise would not result in pay increase or cuts.

It is a known secret that teachers are undervalued and the job evaluation is a gimmick to distract and delay teachers’ attempt to sign a CBA.

We do not need any basis for salary negotiation from any one. The international benchmarks have offered that basis and that is what we, as a union, are using to agitate for better terms of service for our members.