Teachers' strike looms as pay talks resume today

Talks on teachers' new pay resume today, with unions warning the Government they expect a substantive counter offer.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has cautioned parents to prepare for longer holidays with their children if today's discussions do not yield a compromise.

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion warned that the union expects the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to table a reasonable counter offer to their pay demands.

"We cannot negotiate teachers' salaries forever as there are many other vital issues the union needs to address. Parents should prepare to have their children at home past December if TSC does not give us a logical offer on Monday," said Mr Sossion.

Sossion revealed that in case today's meeting does not bear fruit, Knut's National Executive Council (NEC) will convene on Wednesday to chart the way forward, with industrial action being the likely resolution.

Separately, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary General Akello Misori warned the Government to brace for a tough battle in January, saying its members would boycott classes until their demands were met.

"It will not be business as usual unless our demands are effected immediately," Mr Misori said, adding, "Among the demands is the responsibility allowances for head teachers, leave allowance and a 200 per cent salary increase without which the Government can be sure there will be no opening of schools."

Sossion accused the Government of dragging its feet on the matter, further condemning it for using the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to frustrate the efforts of unions advocating for their members' rights.

"It is the right of trade unions to negotiate collective bargaining agreements and decent wages for their members. CRA has lost focus in it role and constitutional mandate and has allowed itself to be arm-twisted by the Government to disadvantage the teachers," said Misori.

Sossion was speaking at a gender training programme in Eldoret on Saturday.