By Philemon Kiprop
Mass recruitment for Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) membership has been kicked off in Trans Nzoia county.
KNUT Trans Nzoia county branch executive secretary George Wanjala said that the union was seeking to recruit back teachers who had left the union following differences between KNUT and Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Speaking during a teachers’ forum in Kitale, Wanjala argued that the relationship between TSC and KNUT had improved.
‘Teachers should register in large numbers for KNUT membership so that they fully enjoy the services of the union. Doing so will also increase KNUT’s negotiation power when championing for teachers’ rights,’ he said.
Wanjala called upon TSC to be reasonable in its undertakings for the betterment of the education sector.
He slammed TSC for the discrimination it exhibited while promoting teachers and said that the move led to the mass exodus from the union.
‘The constitution allows every worker to join a trade union hence the move by TSC to deny unionized members promotions was unwarranted.’ He said.
The unionist further explained that the agency fee deducted from teachers is meant for services rendered by the union to teachers and that once the teachers register as members, the deduction vote head will change to union dues.
Wanjala raised question on how the controversial Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme was rolled out. He termed it illegal and added that the court had still barred it.
He revealed that the union was in talks with TSC on the best way of implementing TPD.
