Another Teachers' Strike Looming

Teachers have threatened to go for yet another strike come February 27, if the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will not have adhered to the signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as ordered by President Uhuru Kenyatta in November last year.

Speaking during Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Mt Elgon branch elections, the union's Secretary General, Wilson Sossion, said that TSC remained a hindrance to realization of teachers and workers rights, therefore after February 27th the Commission should expect the worst. 

 “My friends these are the facts and accurate dynamics at the economic front and it will bring poverty to us and that is why we want 50-60,” Sossion said.

The Secretary General also expressed his disappointment on teachers' leave allowances effected by TSC, saying that it was unconstitutional and unfair to be given the allowances that did not match the basic salary.

“How do you calibrate and control teachers for some leave allowances of between sh 4000 and sh 10000 when it is very clear that leave allowance should be equivalent to a basic salary of one month,” Sossion emphasized. 

Sossion further accused the Jubilee government of perfecting the art of fighting workers by being hostile to trade unions, adding that it was malicious that TSC had failed to remit teachers' deductions for the union, spanning five months.

In September last year, teachers across the country downed their tools paralysing education for five weeks demanding a 50-60 per cent pay increase as had been ordered by court.

After a fierce court battle between the teachers' employer and Unions representing the tutors, President Kenyatta intervened leading to the strike being called off. 

 

 

 

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