InnovateGuy wrote:alma wrote:Let us not confuse issues here.
The issue is not whether or not a teacher deserves commutter allowance or not. Or if he goes to class drunk, or if you feel that you wished you had their job so you can work less hours.
The issue is whether or not the Gov't of Kenya has a signed contract with said teacher's union.
If it does, then it has no choice but to pay up. Otherwise, it will send signals to the rest of the world that the Kenyan gov't doesn't pay its bills.
If you say that this was a bad deal, please inform us on why you think the Anglo-leasing deal is better since the Gov't of Kenya is still paying for it.
As to how much, when, why teachers are being given so much, I would suggest you do yourself a favour and join a better union.
The Mpigs have one and it seems the teachers have one too.
So the person I will listen to is the one who can explain to me why a gov't should be taken seriously when it refuses to honour a contract it signed.
It is unfortunate that the government of the day signed that agreement in the first place. It is also unfortunate that promissory notes were honoured to a non-existent company (Anglo-leasing). Again, it is regrettable that
SRC gave in to the demands by MPs.
Nevertheless,we should not lose sight of the big picture here. The picture is that once the government honours that deal, nurses, doctors, and other civil servants will also come in to demand what the government gives to the teachers. This may not be bad - from a populist perspective because everyone will have a high pay. But, what will this do to the government's wage bill? Definitely, it will be up there.
Do not lose sight of the fact that a huge % of the current budget is being used to fund recurrent expenditures. This means that cash which would otherwise go into development projects, will be used to pay salaries. Is this acceptable in the face of the government debt which exceeds 1 trillion?
Again, the private sector the private sector will be forced to raise their wages to attract and retain talent. In effect, the cost of production will go up. Is this acceptable, considering the fact that we need our goods to be competitive?
I will not even tackle inflation and productivity.
It's good that you support performance contracting. My opinion is that salary increase should be pegged on performance and productivity. Innovate, I have no problem with an employer insisting on something being done to provide better services. Actually I think performance contracts are ok.
I personally think the wage bill is too high. I personally feel that this contract wasn't all that good.
BUT
We are talking about contracts and GOV'T contracts at that.
Its a shame that the gov't of the day(s) have been playing volleyball with this. It's also unfortunate that this happened in the 100 days of Jubilee and all that yada yada yada.
BUT
Gov't must pay its contracts.
Failure of any gov't to pay any form of contracts is a slippery slope you don't want to get into.
That is why
Pattni was paid, anglo-leasing is being paid, british gov't is still being paid, who knows what other horrible contracts this gov't and other before it have been paying for.
it's the principle at hand here. And to be honest, whoever started this "negotiations" by thumbing his nose in the teachers faces is the cause of this problem we have.
Even Moi used to go slowly in such matters.
but I guess the euphoria of laptops is making some in gov't think they are infallible.
Firing 200000 people will take this country in places we have never seen. Sure jubilee will look strong, powerful and almighty, BUT.
Let's be wise a bit. Moi talked, Kibaki talked. Even Uhuru should talk. These are Kenyans too and only a stupid man can call teachers CORD as if teachers in nyeri belong to cord.
We respect teachers, I'm sure they will throw a bone back. We call them cord, they hate our new gov't, we shall never talk etc etc and expect failure in the first 100 days.
Jose: If I make it through this thug life, I'll see you one day. The Lord is the only way to stop the hurt.