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{
    "id": 583042,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/583042/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 421,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Union of Teachers (KNUT) looks at those issues critically. As Kenyans, we went ahead in broad daylight and voted in a Constitution which allowed teachers, who are professionals to be unionized. Once we agreed that they should be unionized, there are no two-ways about it, we have to negotiate their terms. These are some of the realities we have to live with. If we do not want them to take that route, then we should not have allowed them to be unionized. Otherwise, when we allow unions, then we have talk through the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and negotiate. Unfortunately, that is the situation we are in. Madam Temporary Speaker, regarding affordability, this is a matter we have discussed. As a nation, we must look at our priorities. There are no greater national interests today than the education of our children. It should come ahead of any other thing. When there is a crisis or an emergency, the Government needs to go back, look at the Budget, take a pen and a pencil and defer some expenditure. One of the most important expenditures that can be deferred and which has been raised by many people is the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). Primarily, CDF is used for building classrooms but when there is a crisis of lack of teachers, we can defer building of additional schools and classrooms and pay the teachers. In the last ten years, the Government has increased CDF and other funds significantly. These are kind of increments that these people are asking for. It is not a lot of money, and I am sure if there is goodwill, I have no doubt that the money can be found today and not even tomorrow."
}