The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) have affirmed that their strike notices remain in effect through a joint statement.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had called for urgent discussions with the two unions on Wednesday, August 21, in a last-minute effort to avert a strike planned for August 26.
In a statement seen by Education News dated August 21, both KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu and KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori expressed their dissatisfaction, noting that TSC had not fully addressed their concerns.
The only progress they acknowledged was the implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA); following TSC’s confirmation that it had received the full budgetary allocations for the same.
”Regrettably, the Commission has once again failed to address our concerns. The Commissioners brought absolutely nothing tangible in five out of six irreducible demands we have made. The only gain from the talks was the immediate implementation of Phase Two of 2021-2025 CBA. The Commission confirmed that it had received the full budgetary allocation for the CBA,” the statement reads.
Both unions confirmed that teachers would receive their full benefits and arrears for July in their August pay slips, disclosing that the Commission had assured them that the payroll would be finalized by Wednesday, August 21.
However, the unions noted that the commission had been evasive regarding several demands, including the promotion of 130,000 teachers who were shortlisted and interviewed but remained stagnant in their job groups, the confirmation of 46,000 intern teachers under permanent and pensionable terms, and the recruitment of 20,000 new teachers for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).
They also expressed concern about the unresolved issues of remitting all third-party deductions and initiating discussions for a new CBA.
The two secretary generals emphasized that the authority to call off the strike lies with the National Governing Council (NGC) for KUPPET and the National Executive Council (NEC) for KNUT. They further stated that the unions were prepared to convene these bodies once they receive a solid commitment from the Commission to resolve the five outstanding issues.
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They also noted that the strike notices issued by both unions remain active, and the strike is scheduled to proceed on Monday, August 26. Additionally, they encouraged union members, parents, and the public to support their cause.
“Given the foregoing, the strike Notices issued by KUPPET and KNU remain in force. The unions will mobilize their members, parents and like-minded Kenyans to join the fight for teachers’ labour rights and the rights of Kenyan children to quality education,” the statement continues.
“We assure all stakeholders including parents and members of the school communities that the strike starting on Monday 26 August is protected under the law. From midnight of Sunday 25 August when the Notices expire, all teachers should withdraw their labour until their grievances are fully addressed.” The Unions concluded.
By Frank Mugwe
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