KNUT withdraws case on disputed pay rise

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has withdrawn a case against the scrapping of a salary raise to facilitate negotiations.

Knut withdrew the application it filed in the Supreme Court to contest the Court of Appeal’s ruling that denied teachers the 50-60 pay rise.

It emerged Knut and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) met a State-appointed negotiator on Monday.

Knut officials led by Secretary General Wilson Sossion at a press conference. (PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD)

The Labour ministry appointed the mediator to avert a planned teachers’ strike over performance contracts and appraisals currently being rolled out by TSC. Knut threatened to call a nationwide strike if the ministry failed to intervene on the two exercises.

A meeting held on Monday between TSC and Knut resolved that all hostilities be dropped as the Government stepped in to forestall the strike.

“We cannot divulge the details of the meeting but it is true that in the spirit of dialogue both parties were asked to stop the hostilities,” said Hellen Apiyo, who chaired the meeting also attended by Federation of Kenya Employers.

TSC was not opposed to the withdrawal. “By consent the case is marked as withdrawn,” said justice Mohamed Ibrahim. A statement by Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion said all parties to the talks committed to the conciliation.

“That all parties must drop their hostilities and consequently TSC should halt with immediate effect the rolling out of performance contracting and appraisals pending the outcome of the process,” read the statement dated February 22 and signed by Sossion.

 

The statement further directed secondary and primary school head teachers against participating in any of the listed TSC activities until otherwise advised at the end of the conciliation talks.

Yesterday, TSC Spokesman Kihumba Kamotho said no such agreement on performance contracts was reached.

“Our two lawyers represented the commission at the meeting and they tell us that no such agreement was arrived at. Knut is an interested party in the matter and it is self-defeating for them to make proclamations on the issue. Only the conciliator, who is a neutral arbiter, can speak on the matter. Sossion cannot, therefore, purport to issue orders to principals, head teachers and teachers. These are employees of TSC,” Mr Kamotho said.

Knut had moved to court seeking to overturn the judgment of the appellate court on account that they erred on the Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s role.

Sossion said the union had moved to court as “a cautionary measure” in case TSC continued to obstruct an amicable resolution to the pay row.