The Kenya National Union of Teachers has threatened to stage a go-slow if the government fails to pay the teachers July salary.
Knut yesterday announced that teachers will be in class but will not teach should the government make good its threat to withhold salaries for the period they were on strike from July 3rd to 23rd.
A member of the union's national executive committee Japheth Serem said teachers will stage the go slow if teachers salaries are not posted into their accounts by the end of the month.
Serem said the recent strike was legal and therefore teachers should be paid their salaries as per the law.
Serem and KNUT's executive secretary in Eldoret East Sammy Borr said the government would not frustrate teachers now they had returned to work. He said the government cannot compel the teachers to do their work under threat.
"Teaching is a calling and we are inspired from the heart. The government cannot withhold our salaries and then force us to go class and teach,"said Serem.
The union officials spoke at a function attended by Education Principal Secretary Dr Kipsang Belio who said the teachers do not deserve to be paid for work not done.
KNUT officials were barred from addressing the function which was an education prize giving day for schools sponsored by the Anglican Church in Eldoret Diocese. Present also was Bishop Christopher Ruto.
"We have not been allowed to talk to the teachers and school children here because we would have told Dr Kipsang our minds without holding back any words,"said Borr.
But Kipsang said the teachers like any other workers, should not expect pay for work not done. "Its only fair that they get paid for work done and if they were not on duty then that is different," said Kipsang.
He however asked the teachers to continue their negotiations with the Teachers Service Commission to resolve the matter.
Serem and Borr said the teachers had signed a return to work formula with the government in which the teachers were not supposed to be victimized after calling off the strike.
"For the government to now change its position and decide that it will not pay teachers is a betrayal of the back-to-work agreement. We have to be told clearly what this government stands for and wants from teachers because we can not work that way,"said Borr.
Borr and Serem said teachers had agreed to go back to class and make up for the time they were away. He said the two weeks added to the school term would be wasted if the government failed to pay the July salaries.
Bishop Ruto said it would be unwise for the government to continue frustrating teachers after the strike ended. "The teachers are human beings and there is no way they will work effectively with such kind of back-stabbing from the government. Let them be paid their salaries in full,"said Bishop Ruto.
The chairman of the Kenyan National Association of Human Rights Activists Ken Wafula said it would be illegal and unconstitutional for the government to deny teachers their pay.
"Strikes are protected in law locally and internationally. We will sue the government for breaching the rights of teachers if the salaries are not paid in full,"said Wafula.
Borr said the teaching profession was losing respect and dignity because of the government's arrogance and deliberate frustrations against teachers.
The union has planned to hold meetings with teachers to decide when the go-slow will start.
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