By Azael Masese
Secondary school teachers have been urged to join Kenya Union of Secondary School Teachers (KUPPET) to gain from its bargaining power of better improved terms of service.
Deputy Secretary GeneralMoses Nthurima noted besides gaining from improved remuneration, the union will intervene in case a member has issues with either the employer or any other party.
However, he said that teachers who benefit from the improved terms of service as advanced by the union are bound by law to pay agency fee.
A number of teachers whose salaries were deducted to pay agency fees were furious at first but had to calm after they were told that this is a legal provision.
Though KUPPET was paid the agency fee, it is not yet understood if KNUT was paid the fee.
Speaking during the KUPPET Nairobi branch Annual General Meeting held at Meridian Hotel, early August, Nthurima said they are exploring many ways of improving the members’ welfare.
“Nairobi is for example becoming challenging for teachers and we are working on ways so that teachers benefit from township allowance,” he said.
He noted that the union cannot fight good ideas especially those that touch on improving the members’ welfare but must be cautious on who take care of the investments.
Nairobi Kuppet executive secretary Moses Owiti said the union has registered commendable efforts in ensuring there is a good learning and teaching environment in schools within Nairobi County.
As the union turns 20 years since its formation in 1998, Owiti said that the union pushed for better sanitation at Raila Education Centre where there was poor sanitation hence hindering learning.
“We have also ensured that promotions within Nairobi are fairly done through advertisement and this was not the case in the past,” he said.
Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association chairman Peter Orero called on the change of the constitution so that KUPPET recruits all secondary school teachers.
Nairobi KUPPET branch Organising Secretary Isaac Masenge said the mooted idea of having primary teachers join KNUT and those in secondary join KUPPET is fashioned along the medical field practices.
