Teachers call for a strike before next term
The Kenya Teachers in Hardship and Arid Areas Welfare Association (KETHAWA) has urged the two giant teachers’ unions, KNUT and KUPPET, to ready teachers for a strike when schools will be opening for third term on August 28.
KETHAWA National Secretary Wangonya Wangenye said that they should issue a strike notice if the government fails to sign a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for increased salaries and allowances for teachers.
“The unions should relentlessly push the government for immediate review and signing of a new CBA to increase salaries and allowances of teachers,” he said.
He said that the signing of new CBA should be before the end of this July since the budget appropriation for Financial Year (FY) 2023/2024 is being uploaded to the IFMIS system at the National Treasury, and any further delay will give the government leeway for excuses of lack of funds.
Wangenye said that otherwise, other civil servants such as doctors who have already issued a strike notice will get a salary increment and teachers will be left behind in what he termed as ‘a well-orchestrated scheme of divide and rule by the government’.
He noted that currently, the National Treasury is a beehive of activities as all government agencies are uploading their budgets even over the weekend and at night in order to start utilization and absorption by the end of July, stressing that teachers should not be left out.
“Teachers are more than ready to strike and demand what is rightfully theirs. If unions fail to call for a strike, teachers will voluntarily on their own join other government workers’ unions like KMPDU that have already issued strike notices, or alternatively, there will be spontaneous demonstrations and protests among teachers.” Wangenye said.
Teachers call for a strike before next term
