KNUT and TSC will discuss the possibility of a teacher strike before the third term.
On Wednesday, August 7, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), under the direction of Secretary General Collins Oyuu, has set up an important meeting with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss outstanding matters pertaining to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and potentially avert the scheduled teacher walkout.
Oyuu clarified that they had written to the employer to request a meeting as the initial step. If more action is required after this meeting, KNUT intends to issue a strike notice.
This possible strike falls inside the third term of the school year, which Oyuu argued was the most advantageous time to take action.
After paying for the first part of the CBA in July 2023, KNUT made the decision to push for this meeting, even though the second phase, which is due in July 2024, has not yet been paid.
Oyuu underlined that KNUT will proceed with issuing a strike notice if the problems are not resolved at the next meeting with the TSC.
“The initial actions to request a meeting in writing with the employer have been completed. On August 7, 2024, tomorrow, we are scheduled to be seated. Then, we’ll move forward and issue a strike notification,” Oyuu said.
Oyuu contended that this time was essential given the current conditions, notwithstanding the possible disruptions during the third term. While he understood the legal difficulties, he emphasized that the union felt forced to take action because of persistent problems.
Concerns regarding loan deductions and the underpaid second phase of the CBA are among the outstanding difficulties. Although banks record non-receipt of cash, meaning that the deducted amounts have not reached the banks, teachers are aware of their loan repayment obligations.
The meeting’s urgency and the possibility of a strike are increased by this disparity.
KNUT is unwavering in its demands that the CBA be fulfilled and the deduction issues be resolved.
These persistent issues, which have a substantial negative influence on teachers’ general morale and financial security, are the focus of the planned strike.
Oyuu defended the union’s position on the strike, saying that the third term was the ideal time to act despite its possible consequences. He said that the union made its choice after careful consideration and a desire to address the urgent problems that teachers were facing.
To sum up, the August 7th meeting with TSC is essential to figuring out what KNUT and its members will do next.
The union is hoping for a settlement that will stop the walkout, guarantee that the CBA is fulfilled, and handle debt deductions correctly.
KNUT and TSC will discuss the possibility of a teacher strike before the third term.
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