National Chairman Mudzo Nzili has told Capital FM News that the ruling which is set for Monday will determine whether the teachers go on strike next month or not/FILE
National Chairman Mudzo Nzili told Capital FM News that the ruling which is set for Monday will determine whether the teachers go on strike next month or not.
He indicated that teachers have a right to be paid their dues and acting contrary to this will deprive them of what’s owed to them.
“As teachers, we have our rights. We have to be paid our dues because we are also Kenyans. However, we are also law abiding citizens and we respect our courts,” he stated. “That is why we will wait for the ruling on the appeal by TSC before we are able to decide on the best way forward.”
The KNUT chairman said they expect nothing but justice for Kenya’s teachers and accused TSC for running to the courts to evade the responsibility of paying its employees.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court had awarded teachers a 50 to 60 percent pay rise but TSC moved to court to appeal the increment.
Last week, Education Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi said that the ministry will also await the judgment of the appeal before taking any action.
He emphasised the need for the courts to hear both sides of the story in the appeal since everyone had confidence in the Judiciary.
The CS had appealed for everyone to allow due process to prevail before making any move which may inconvenience both teachers and students.
He stated that when unions resorted to strikes, it has its own consequences chief among them being the disruption of the studies of students.
He emphasised that this will interrupt the learning process and this would be detrimental to the progress of the children.
In the salary award, Judge Nduma Nderi had said that the basic salary was below the Consumer Price Index and teachers’ allowances will first be harmonized to match other public servants.
Nderi said salaries should be harmonised to address the difference between lower and higher job groups.
He had called for TSC to work with other organs as mandated by the collective agreement with KNUT and KUPPET.
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