Divide and rule won't work, teachers tell State

From left: Secretary Generals Wilson Sossion (Knut), Akello Misori (Kuppet), and Chairmen Mudzo Nzili (Knut) and Omboko Milemba (Kuppet) show solidarity at a Nairobi hotel Monday. [Photo: Beverlyne Musili/standard]

The two giant teachers' unions closed ranks to fight off a fresh bid by the Government to force them to end the nationwide strike that has entered its second week.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) officials vowed to no longer negotiate with the State separately to counter what they described as a divide-and-rule strategy by their employer.

In the past, the Government has taken advantage of rivalry between the two unions whose representatives have refused to sit on the negotiating table together to cut a deal with one of the unions to weaken teachers' agitation.

Prior to the collapse of the recent talks, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had engaged Knut and Kuppet in parallel discussions. But Monday, a day after the Government announced strident measures including roll call and school inspections designed to scuttle the ongoing strike, top officials of the two unions held a joint press conference at a hotel in Upper Hill, Nairobi to demonstrate their solidarity and resolve.

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion and his Kuppet counterpart Akello Misori claimed they were aware the Government was attempting to use divide-and-rule tactics to force teachers to resume duty.

"We have agreed that from now on if the Government or the employer wants to negotiate with us, they will do so when both unions are present. Never again will the teachers of this country be divided because we are pursuing the same thing from the same employer," declared Sossion.

The chairmen of the two unions Mudzo Nzili (Knut) and Omboko Milemba (Kuppet) were present at the briefing at which Sossion read the joint statement, vowing teachers will press on with the strike until the Government signs a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to award them higher perks.

"We have agreed that the strike will continue until the Government signs with us a CBA. That's the only time we will resume duty. We are asking the teachers to ignore any manner of threats or intimidation until we are given a deal," Sossion added.

The unions argued that the Consultative Committee on Terms and Conditions of Service for teachers held six unproductive meetings that ended in a stalemate.

They argued the basis for the strike was a clamour for better pay including salaries, responsibility and house allowances which they want pegged at 50 per cent of the basic salary.

"There was partial agreement on harmonised commuter allowances and in the same agreement with Kuppet, parties agreed to pursue the issue of salaries, responsibility allowance and house allowance and other issues. These now form part of the issues in the strike," explained Sossion.

Disown offer

According to the unions, the employer offered an increase in the teachers' basic salary by between 50 and 60 per cent and a few other allowances but the employer withdrew the offer and has since attempted to disown it.

Knut and Kuppet defended the legality of the strike arguing that they issued the requisite strike notices under the Labour Relations Act on January 5 and 7 respectively.

The unions are against the withdrawal of hardship allowance, which was being pegged at 30 per cent as per the existing CBA to a flat rate without concurrence yet it was a negotiated allowance way back in 1997.

Public schools across the country remained closed as pupils and students in private schools continue with learning as usual. Teachers have won round one of the legal battle with the Government after the courts declined to declare the strike illegal.

The court ordered the unions to appear in court tomorrow where a resolution is expected to be reached between the Government and tutors.

Teachers have insisted they want their basic pay raised as part of a return-to-work formula while the Government argues that it has no money to push for such a move, insisting that it will cripple other sectors of the economy.

The Government through the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) insists that a job evaluation must be done before salaries for public and other civil servants are increased, which might take eight months to complete. But teachers are adamant that the CBA must be signed before they resume duty.

The teachers dismissed threats by TSC and Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi, saying they will not be coerced to go back to class without basic salary increase.

Knut Nairobi Branch officials accused TSC of releasing circulars aimed at intimidating teachers and forcing them to go back to work yet their issues have not been addressed.

Monday, Knut Nairobi branch members congregated at St Stephens Anglican Church of Kenya on Jogoo Road, Nairobi, to pray for the end to the stalemate. But the teachers maintained that just like TSC secretariat whose terms were allegedly improved, so should theirs.

 Ignore position

Led by Nairobi branch Executive Secretary Macharia Mugwe, the teachers said the public should ignore TSC's position that they were offered Sh9.3 billion for their allowances, saying that the amount will only benefit a few.

Mugwe insisted that the ongoing teachers strike was legal, contrary to TSC which has maintained that it is illegal.

"We don't want to be intimidated and coerced to go back to class. Let Kaimenyi call for a structured dialogue to end the stalemate but not through threats or intimidation," said Mugwe.

He added: "The Sh9.3 billion they claim they have offered to us will only benefit a few teachers but not all. All we want is salary increment and not threats."