The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has criticized the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for tampering with the payroll of teachers by halting the Sacco loan remittances and other third party deductions.
The teachers union had while effecting the move said it would held cushion teachers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I call on TSC not to tamper with the payroll of teachers by halting the Sacco loan remittances and other third party deductions, it will hurt both the teachers and the Saccos,” said Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion in a statement.
Rival union, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) had proposed that TSC stop statutory/loan deductions during Covid-19 pandemic.
“KUPPET proposal that TSC should stop statutory/loan deductions during the pandemic period, and treated with contempt, unless such proposal originates from SACCO management who are teachers,” said the outspoken unionist.
Defending SACCOs capacity, Sossion said that teachers’ SACCOs in Kenya have turned out to be the best managed and performing on the continent among the teaching service.
“Furthermore, this proposal is not born out of any consultation all teachers’ SACCOs were started by KNUT, and we cannot afford or allow any action that will see them go down. It is our duty and responsibility to defend, protect and continue oiling the wheels of SACCOs and Cooperative movement,” added the unionist.
He said that the Union will not allow the Commission to interfere with the teacher’s, SACCOs arrangement as this will have far reaching repercussions in post Covid-19 era.
“The National Executive Council (NEC) of KNUT, after wide consultations with members and teachers, hereby advices strongly, not to tamper with the payroll in whichever way whatsoever,” Sossion ruled.
SACCOs, he said are economic lifeline of teachers and their dependents, and if their operations are halted through failure to effect loan deductions, the future of teachers and their families will be ruined for ever.
Sossion added that besides being illegal and retrogressive in nature, the proposal by the Commission is bound to roll-back the gains already made by teachers and their SACCOs.
“Moreover, the proposal did not go through the mandatory requirement of consultation and public participation. If teachers are paid full salaries, there is no logical reason to stop effecting statutory/loan or SACCO deductions and other third party deductions,” said the unionist.
The letter is copied to line Cabinet secretaries including Simon Chelugui, (Labour and Social Protection, Prof. George O. Magoha, (Education, Science & Technology) and
Dr. Lydia Nzomo, Chairperson, Teachers Service Commission.
