Unions want Cotu seat in salaries team

What you need to know:

Registration of rival unions has in the past been seen as an attempt to weaken existing unions, especially when they become a thorn in the flesh of the status quo.
Through its televised rallies in the run-up to the 2010 constitution referendum and recently fundraisers Cotu has wrapped some sections of the political establishment the wrong way with its bold, at times comical, take on national issues and personalities.

Trade unions representing public sector workers have ganged up against the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu), seeking to replace its officials from key organisations.

Also read: Union disowns fresh NHIF bid to raise rates

The Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS), the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) yesterday formed one umbrella body with the immediate goal of replacing Cotu’s representative in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

The unions argue that the commission is mandated to determine pay issues in the public sector and, therefore, Cotu, whose affiliates largely represent private sector workers, should not be a member of the commission.

“The SRC is there to review the salaries of public servants, including our individual union members.

We cannot have those occupying the seat being those who are not in the public service,” said Charles Mukhwaya, the interim deputy secretary- general for the newly-formed body to be known as the Confederation of Public Servants Trade Unions of Kenya (Pusetu-K).

The confederation, which also covers the Universities Non-Teaching Staff Union (Untesu), is seeking to bring more unions on board. The confederation has already been registered by the registrar of trade unions.

KNUT national chairman Wilson Sossion said the Salaries Review Commission as presently constituted was a recipe for industrial unrest. Cotu’s championing of the interests of workers has come under scrutiny in the wake of major scandals at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) — in which Cotu has a seat — and mismanagement of the National Social Security Fund.

Cotu secretary- general Francis Atwoli often comes out to oppose unpopular decisions at the funds only when the matters attract the wrath of workers. Last month, Mr Atwoli threatened to withdraw from the NHIF board if proposed higher insurance premiums are implemented without adequate consultation.

Teachers and lecturers, who are notably the majority of Pusetu’s pioneer members, form a big part of both the NHIF and NSSF. Knut and UKCS had last year signed an agreement with NHIF on how their members would access affordable healthcare through the scheme at half their medical allowances.

Pusetu’s establishment also comes barely a month after teachers and lecturers managed to compel the government to pay Sh13.5 billion and Sh7.87 billion in lump sum for the two parties to call off their respective strikes.

The SCR is by law required to have 14 members whose mandate is to “set and regularly review remuneration and benefits of state officers and advice the national and county government on the remuneration and benefits of other public officers.”

The members include a representation from an umbrella employers’ body — the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) — and another from a joint forum of professional bodies.

However, it is the seat indicated in the Constitution as “one person nominated by an umbrella body representing trade unions” that the newly-formed group is targeting. The seat is currently held by currently occupied by Isaiah Kubai, who represents Cotu.

On Monday, Cotu deputy secretary general George Muchai, however, said the five unions’ claim to the SRC seat was uninformed.

“Formation of an umbrella body for the sole purpose of securing a seat in SRC can best be described as rubbish. The union was ill-advised on this matter,” he said.In his view, Cotu was already recognised and registered as the national union organisation, granting it seats in many bodies including the salaries team. “The five unions cannot therefore form a sector-based forum and claim it will articulate national issues touching on all civil servants,” he said.

Mr Muchai added that Cotu’s membership included workers in the public service – excluding teachers and public servants – and that this gave them their strength to occupy the seat.

Pusetu may have to wait for four years when the SRC team completes its term before making a move for the seat.

“Commission members were sworn-in in January for a constitutionally-backed term of four years ending January 2016,” a source said. “Any review in the national body whose member is to occupy this contested seat can earliest be realised then,” the source said.

Pusetu’s registration marks an end to two years of clamouring for an umbrella body of choice to be recognised including a dragged out court case last year.

Registration of rival unions has in the past been seen as an attempt to weaken existing unions, especially when they become a thorn in the flesh of the status quo.

Through its televised rallies in the run-up to the 2010 constitution referendum and recently fundraisers Cotu has wrapped some sections of the political establishment the wrong way with its bold, at times comical, take on national issues and personalities.