The Federation of Public Service Trade Unions of Kenya (PUSETU) has said the Salaries and Remuneration Commission has overstepped its mandate by directing the Teachers Service commission to withhold the July salaries of teachers who participated in a four-week strike earlier this month.
In a press statement issued through the federation's treasurer Njeru Kanyamba, PUSETU said the SRC like the TSC is a constitutional commission and therefore has no authority to issue directives to other commissions.
"PUSETU is asking the TSC to ignore the order and execute their independent mandate as provided for in the constitution", said Kanyamba.
He termed the directive as "outrageous", "demeaning", "degrading" and an insult to all workers in the country adding that Article 41 of the constitution gives workers the right to participate in a strike.
He further said teachers are not employed on contract basis and are entitled to a monthly salary each month unless they are on unpaid leave or have been removed from payroll.
"PUSETU wishes to warn that any state officer or institution withholding the July salaries of teachers or withhold union dues payable to a registered trade union is in contravention of the law and will invite the ire of all workers in the public sector", he said.
The government had announced that it will not pay July salaries to teachers who participated in the four week strike co-ordinated by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) from July 3 TO 23.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) threatened to stage a go-slow if the government fails to pay the July Salary. On Sunday Knut announced that teachers will be in class but will not teach should the government make good its threat to withhold salaries.
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