Knut warns Kuppet against charging members

By CHARLES NGENO

 

The Kenya National Union of Teachers has vowed to oppose the move by a rival union to charge agency fee for all teachers who benefited from the July pay increase.

Chairman Wilson Sossion described the move as an indirect way  by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers of forcing membership, saying Knut pushed for salary and allowance increment for all teachers irrespective of their union affiliation.

“Our jurisdiction cuts across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Those claiming that they want to charge an agency fee should be informed that we shall not allow it. Teachers should not suffer double deductions,” said Sossion.

Kuppet wants an agency fee on secondary and tertiary teachers who benefited from the negotiations that ended their July strike.

Sossion warned that should TSC implement Kuppet’s demand, Knut would seek legal redress. “This is an attempt by a union that is state sponsored to weaken the main union. We read it as an attempt to disorganise and destabilise teachers,” he said.

Sossion said Kuppet will collect a 1.5 per cent levy charged against teachers’ salaries who are not its members.

Contacted, Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori and Vice Chairman Julius Korir said those who are not in Kuppet will be charged agency fee because they benefited from the allowances negotiated by the union during the July strike.

“Most have opted to join the union and enjoy more benefits instead of paying the agency fee and  not enjoying our services,” said Misori who blamed Knut of engaging in supremacy battles.

   More benefits

Korir said Knut wants to remain relevant by attacking them. “We have initiated ‘Operation Rudi Nyumbani’ and from the numbers that have been filling forms, Knut has every reason to worry,” he said warning that the will face them in court.

Meanwhile, Kuppet has officially written to Kenya National Examinations Council demanding increases in the pay per script for teachers marking national examinations.

Kuppet vice chairman Julius Korir revealed that the union has also demanded that the Sh100 paid as out of pocket allowance be increased to conform to rising cost of living.

“We have also written to Knec demanding that they tell us measures they have put in place to ensure prompt payment of supervisors, invigilators and examiners immediately the examination is completed and marked respectively,” said Korir.

He added that Knec should stop hosting examiners in students’ dormitories but instead offer appropriate accommodation.