Protests will only worsen pay dispute, Federation of Kenya Employers tells CORD

Federation of Kenya Employers CEO Jacqueline Mugo  on 28th July 2015. PHOTO:WILBERFORCE OKWIRI

The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) now wants the Opposition to stop "politicising the labour dispute" between teachers' unions and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

The federation said it was opposed to the planned protests by the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), adding that such demonstrations have no place in industrial relations and will not provide the much-needed solution to the impasse that has seen learning affected countrywide.

In a statement on the matter, FKE Executive Director Jacqueline Mugo (pictured) said politicising the dispute between TSC and the teachers' unions might escalate the issue that is still pending in court.

"Protests, demonstrations and buck-passing only serve to entrench partisan positions and drag the dispute further on. FKE calls for accommodation among all parties and appeals for the voice of reason and understanding to prevail," she said.

She added: "We must put the interest of the millions of children at heart and spare them the uncertainty and the negative publicity that the strike and planned protests are associated with."

Ms Mugo urged CORD's leadership to work towards the resolution of the teachers' strike by pursuing a consensus-based process, adding that grievances and conflicts are an inevitable part of the employment relationship.

"FKE is of the opinion that all the avenues for solutions have not been exploited and that all parties should exercise restraint and positive dialogue," Mugo said in the statement.

This comes after CORD announced that it plans to hold a rally to protest the Government's stand on the ongoing teachers' strike that is in its fourth week.