Civil servants blame SRC for freezing salary review
Mr Wilson Asingo, the Deputy National Organising Secretary of Union of Kenya Civil Servants.
Civil servants have accused the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) of overstepping its mandate by freezing a review of their salaries following the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024.
They said it was irregular for the SRC to block the implementation of the second phase of their salary increase, which was enshrined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and duly registered with the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) deputy national organising secretary Wilson Asingo noted that the purported deferral was a breach of the CBA agreed by the central negotiating committee.
"This is an existing and continuing agreement that is binding on the government to cushion public sector workers against the rising cost of living and to improve their welfare.
"Are we going to renegotiate or are we going to abandon what has already been discussed and agreed upon?" he said during a press conference in Kisumu yesterday.
As required by law, Mr Asingo pointed out that the advisory and concurrence of the SRC were sought before the CBA was registered.
"This advisory, notwithstanding its financial aspect and phases of implementation, fell far short of the union's demands and expectations," he said.
Mr Asingo accused the commission of trying to undermine the existing CBA and overstepping its mandate.
As a result of emerging fiscal constraints and budget cuts by the government, the SRC in its communication last week declared a salary freeze for all public officers for the Financial Year 2024-2025.
"Public service institutions with a CBA that are impacted by the deferred implementation of the salary review in the Financial Year 2024-2025 are advised to engage their respective trade unions accordingly," it said in a letter dated July 18, 2024.
SRC Commission Chairperson Lynn Mengich said they will continue to monitor the situation and will consider a review subject to the availability of funding as advised by the National Treasury.
Ms Mengich noted that the decision was taken in close consultation with the National Treasury, taking into account the principles set out in Article 230(5) of the Constitution to ensure fiscal sustainability of the public compensation bill.
But Mr Asingo, citing the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024, noted that it was unfortunate for the SRC to tie its agreement to anticipated and unknown bills for implementation.
However, he said UKCS would today seek an audience with the Salaries Commission to find a way forward.
"The SRC should not be allowed to change, postpone or subject public sector unions to renegotiation mid-stream," he said.
