TSC rules out talks on teachers’ pay, says it will appeal court decision

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has ruled out talks on teachers’ basic salary and said the commission will challenge the court decision.

In a letter dated July 7 to Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary general Wilson Sossion , TSC Chief executive officer Nancy Macharia said the commission has given notice to appeal the judgment that would see the commission part with some Sh52 billion to honour the salary increase of between 50 to 60 per cent.

“Please note that the commission is dissatisfied with the judgment of the court delivered on June 30, 2015, and has subsequently lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal. A notice of appeal to that effect has been served upon your advocates on record," reads the letter.

She went on: “To this end, please note that the commission is unable to conclude Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) incorporating an award of basic salary."

However, Ms Macharia said the commission is willing to conclude the CBA on all non-contentious issues that include house allowance, leave allowance among others.

The commission’s letter follows a demand letter by Knut to the commission dated July 5 that it implements the Employment and Industrial and Labour Relations Court ruling by Justice Nduma Nderi.

Mr Sossion in the letter had demanded that the increase be effected this month.

“The teachers want to make a crystal clear stand that any gymnastics on the part of the government intended or designed to delay the implementation of the judgment shall be met with industrial action by the teachers,” Mr Sossion had warned in his letter.

The commission has insisted that any increase will only be effected once job evaluation for civil servants has been concluded by the end of this year.

Reference : www.nation.co.ke