Salaries and Remuneration Commission has no role in pay talks, say teachers’ unions

Kenya: The two giant teachers’ unions have insisted that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission ( SRC) has no role in the pay dispute before the Industrial Court, a day after the commission filed submissions opposing their push for higher basic pay.

In documents filed at the Industrial Court, SRC argued against the court’s intervention, saying only the commission was mandated to determine salaries for civil servants. This means only the Sh9.3 billion proposal for teachers’ allowances has been extended to teachers, with zero award on the basic pay. But the unions yesterday described SRC as a stranger in the negotiation process.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) said the commission had no role in teachers’ affairs except an advisory one. “ SRC has no mandate in this process. We have told them many times but we shall continue reminding them,” said Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion.

“This is a stranger expanding its role to be relevant after failing to harmonise pay for other State employees,” said Mr Sossion. See also: CS Kaimenyi vows to act on Ruto directive Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori said the level of engagement had reached a point where there were calls for seriousness. “We do not have time for busy bodies. Let them team up with TSC, Treasury and all Government agencies but we shall still counter them strongly,” he said.

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