The rift between two teacher unions KNUT and KUPPET continues to widen over their different stances on strike that the former gave a wide berth.
In an interview on one of the local media yesterday, the Secretary General of KNUT Collins Oyuu and his counterpart in KUPPET Akelo Misori clashed; Misori expressing surprise at KNUT calling off the strike just hours before D-Day.
“We were surprised to learn that the demands had been met, as the TSC had not provided a clear implementation schedule despite assurances at our last meeting,” Misori said.
The KUPPET SG further criticised that decision not to follow through the plan, dismissing the backtracking as ‘treacherous and dishonest’ and questioning how KNUT could quickly agree to cancel the strike.
Misori noted that the key issues like the promotion of 130,000 teachers, some of whom have been on the same pay grade and position for over a decade, and confirmation of 46,000 intern teachers into permanent and pensionable (PnP) terms, have not been met and there is need for teachers to continue with their strikes to ensure that those demands are met by TSC.
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However, Oyuu said KNUT called off the planned industrial action after a substantial portion of their demands were addressed.
He said the primary issue prompting the strike was the implementation of the second phase of the amended Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which was honoured by the teachers employer, Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
“We evaluated the major issue that had been resolved, specifically the implementation of Phase 2. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has enacted this phase, and teachers have received their arrears for July and August,” said Oyuu.
He noted that the effectiveness of the strike was compromised as some teachers faced disciplinary actions and received warning letters from the TSC, expressing concerns about leading a divided team where some members might be in school while others are on strike.
By Vostine Ratemo
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