SNE teachers’ bid to halt union deductions hits a snag as Parliament dismisses it

The National Assembly Committee on Public Petitions rejected a petition from Special Needs Education, (SNE) teachers seeking to compel the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to halt deductions to the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET), a union they claim they never consented to join.

Led by their national chairperson, Edwin Juma, the teachers argued that they were unaware of KUSNET’s existence and had been involuntarily enrolled, with union dues deducted without their approval. They also claimed that KUSNET lacks grassroots representation and fails to hold Annual General Meetings or elections.

In their petition to the committee, the teachers said they had been denied the option to opt out of the deductions despite legal attempts and maintained that they should be free to join a union of their choice.

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However, the committee concluded that the deductions were lawful, citing evidence that all KUSNET members had voluntarily authorized the deductions via the TSC’s T-Pay system.

The MPs added that the TSC’s digital platform gives teachers the ability to opt out of such remittances at will.

The committee noted that all teachers who are members of KUSNET joined the union voluntarily by authorizing deductions via the T-Pay platform and were not coerced.

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As a result, MPs also declined the teachers’ request for a refund of the deducted dues, reinforcing the legitimacy of the TSC’s actions and the existing recognition agreement between the Commission and registered teacher unions.

Under the agreement, primary school teachers affiliate with KNUT, secondary and college teachers with KUPPET, and special needs teachers with KUSNET.

By Cornelius korir

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