Teachers plotting major strike
The teachers’ union has told its members to be ready to boycott classes in September if their employer fails to award them a 50-60 per cent salary increase as directed by the courts.
Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion on Thursday told parents to “prepare to stay with your children longer at home” if the salary rise is not reflected in their August pay slips.
“I want to put teachers on high alert as we prepare for a major war. Teachers should not go to class when schools open next month,” Sossion said at St Luke’s ACK Hall in Makande in Mombasa on Wednesday.
At the same time, Mr Sossion said teachers would not work with Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi and called for his sacking.
CONTROVERSIAL SCHEME
The Knut boss added that they would not allow Prof Kaimenyi and Teachers Service Commission chairwoman Lydia Nzomo to address them.
The teachers also declared that they had pulled out of the National Hospital Insurance Fund medical scheme and warned TSC of “dire consequences” if the rates are deducted from their August salaries.
“We have officially pulled out of this controversial scheme because it is impoverishing teachers and was implemented without proper consultations with teachers.
“We are warning the government never to deduct our salaries with effect from end of August,” he said.
Mr Sossion accused the government of perpetuating impunity and “working hard to kill Knut through various means such as disobeying court orders”.