Kenya’s Teachers Union Gives Way Forward On Planned Strike, Gov’t Issued Demands
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) issued demands to the government prior to the strike.
Kuppet has issued a seven-day strike notice, which is set to begin on August 26, 2024.They have asked the government to meet several demands prior to the strike.
Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori stated that teachers should have the assurance that their promotion is guaranteed.
Teachers' Union KUPPET issues 7-day strike notice, action set to begin on August 26
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) August 15, 2024
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“Our medical cover is enhanced because it is only teachers who do not have group life cover while all other public servants are enjoying group life cover. It is unfortunate and this is something which must happen,” he said.
Misori stated that by now, the Teacher Service Commission should have hired 46,000 intern teachers.
“The teachers were improperly engaged under bad labour practice of having professionals as interns,” he said.
Misori advised parents not to take their children to school because teachers will be on strike.
“This is something which the teachers of the country and this organ have mandated me to tell the whole country that there is no teacher in school and therefore any parent sending the children to school on August 26, 20204 will be doing so at their peril because there will be no teachers in school,” he added.
On August 7, Kuppet and Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) cited the gradual deterioration of working conditions over the commission’s alleged rescinding of past agreements.
The unions demanded that the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) be fully implemented, or they would take industrial action.
The government reduced TSC’s recurrent budget by Sh10.2 billion.
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia appeared before the Departmental Committee on Education on May 14 and 15, 2024, and stated that the commission’s overall recurrent budget had been reduced by 10,281,147,858.
Macharia stated that the reduction would cause a delay in implementing the second phase of the 2021-2025 CBA between TSC and teacher unions, which had been allocated Sh10 billion.
Committee chair Julius Melly stated in a report that teachers may resort to strikes and disruptions of teaching and learning in public schools, as well as litigations in courts.
“The implication of this is that teachers will not receive salary increments envisaged in the CBA,” he said.
“Industrial unrest is something which this government may not wish to deal with at this time given the current unease situation in the country hence the need to ensure that this allocation is provided,” the committee advised.
Kenya’s Teachers Union Gives Way Forward On Planned Strike, Gov’t Issued Demands
