Nyeri secondary school teachers affiliated to KUPPET today protracted their strike despite a court order directing them to call it off.
Led by the Nyeri KUPPET branch Executive Secretary Francis Wanjohi, the teachers held demonstrations in Nyeri streets carrying placards bearing messages to their employer the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The teachers vowed to continue paralysing learning in schools until TSC addresses all their grievances.
Speaking to journalists later, Wanjohi faulted TSC for acting in bad faith by rushing to court instead of inviting KUPPET to the negotiating table.
“We are treating the court orders as rumours because TSC is the one that should be obeying court orders and not us. As teachers we are still on strike and we will continue to be on strike until we receive further instructions from our Secretary General Akello Misori,” Wanjohi said.
Security beefed up at TSC offices in Iten after teachers attempt to gain access
On Tuesday 27th, the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi directed the striking teachers to call off their industrial action pending further orders on September 5. While responding to an urgent application filed on Monday by TSC, Justice James Rika said the orders will remain in place unless alternative instructions are issued on September 5 when the court will mention the matter.
The industrial action started on Monday this week. The teachers are demanding full implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The union also wants the government to promote the 130,000 teachers who have stagnated in their current job grades within this financial year.
They are also demanding the immediate confirmation of 46,000 Junior Secondary School intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms and the employment of 20,000 additional teachers to address the huge deficit in Junior Secondary School.
As a condition for them to resume work, KUPPET also wants the government and the TSC to resolve the collapse of teachers’ medical cover and resolve the non-remittance of loans and National Social Security Fund deductions from teachers by TSC.
Wanjohi also advised principals of schools where students had already reported for third term to send them back home as they are safer there.
He said this in regard to the unrest and destruction of school property that was experienced at dawn in Othaya Boys Secondary.
“There was tension in most boarding schools in Nyeri County from yester night and we are advising principals to send the learners back home as we don’t want to see destruction of school property,” he said.
By Rodgers Wagura
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
