Kuppet files a complaint with the Ministry of Labor before the teachers’ strike.
As schools get ready to resume for the third term on August 26, 2024, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has filed a labor dispute with the Ministry of Labor. This is a crucial step ahead of the teachers’ strike.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is the employer. The union has not been able to settle disputes with the TSC peacefully through social dialogue. The union laid out the reasons for the issue in a letter to Alfred Mutua, the Cabinet Secretary for Labour.
The administration of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams as well as other evaluations in elementary and junior schools will be interfered with if the strike occurs.
“The Union has used every available method, including retreats, letters, and demand notices, to force the employer to resolve the concerns. The letter, signed by the union’s secretary-general, Okello Misori, states that only the cabinet secretary has the authority to compel the employer to resolve the members’ complaints within a reasonable seven-day period. If this is not done, the union will call its members to a nationwide strike that will begin on Monday, August 26, 2024.
About 140,000 people are members of Kuppet, primarily secondary school teachers and tutors in post-primary educational institutions. Approximately 370,000 educators are employed by TSC, with a portion of them being members of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut).
Dr. Mutua declared on Tuesday that he had discussed the striking matter with Knut’s leadership.
In a combined press release, the two unions vowed to call for a nationwide teachers’ strike in the event that the TSC did not resolve their issues. They had already given the commission their demands.
The TSC director for legal, labor, and industrial relations, Cavin Anyuor, signed a reply that said, “The commission has duly noted the issues raised in the said letter and will revert to you once internal consultations are finalized.”
Promotion of teachers
The implementation of the 2021–2025 collective bargaining agreement’s final phase, the promotion of more than 130,000 teachers, the negotiation of a new CBA that the unions argue should take post-graduate allowances, per diems for game teachers, risk allowances for science teachers, special duty and acting allowances for teachers not substantially appointed, are just a few of the issues brought up by Kuppet and Knut.
Additionally, the unions have asked that the TSC convert all 46,000 contract teachers to permanent, pensionable positions. at an effort to fill the staffing shortages at junior schools, they have also requested the hiring of 20,000 additional instructors.
At the ministry’s Nairobi offices, Dr. Mutua met with the Knut steering group, which was chaired by Collins Oyuu, the secretary-general. The parties will get together in a week to assess the strides made in settling the conflict, according to the CS.
“Despite the government’s financial difficulties due to the Finance Bill, 2024’s rejection, I will meet with TSC leadership to discuss the matter, and I believe we can find a solution within the next week,” Dr. Mutua reassured the unions.
He continued by saying that in an effort to address the problem, he will also speak with Kuppet officials.
“The conference is a reflection of our government’s larger efforts to protect worker interests and maintain good workplace relations. Later, Dr. Mutua wrote on his official X page, “I pledged to work with my Cabinet colleagues and other relevant government bodies to address their concerns and assured the union leaders of my commitment to finding swift resolutions to these issues.”
Public spending
The Supplementary Appropriations Bill, 2024, which lowered government spending expectations for the 2024–2025 Financial Year by Sh145.7 billion, was signed into law by President William Ruto last week. The Executive, Parliament, and the Judiciary were among the sectors impacted by the cuts.
Under the differential unit cost funding model, however, Sh18.7 billion was allotted for the confirmation of 46,000 intern teachers, Sh30.7 billion for the capitation of junior school students, and Sh23 billion for universities.
A further Sh17 billion was set aside for the University Fund to offer scholarships to college students, and Sh31.3 billion was given to the Higher Education Loans Board for loans and scholarships.
Malel Langat, Knut’s first national vice chair, issued a dire warning to the TSC, stating that failure to execute the CBA would result in contempt of court because Knut and TSC leadership had signed the legally binding instrument.
Mr. Langat emphasized, “The money for the implementation of the CBA, which provides for salary increments for teachers in this country, should have been the first item on the table in the appropriation of the funds.”
Kuppet files a complaint with the Ministry of Labor before the teachers’ strike.
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