Secret initiatives to put an end to the teachers’ strike.
Various education sector stakeholders are engaging in efforts to halt the industrial action linked to the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) as the teachers’ strike enters its fourth day.
Teachers did, however, affirm that their August wages take into account the last part of their collective bargaining agreement, which runs through 2025. Their employer failed to raise their wages last month, therefore this was one of their complains.
Julius Melly, the National Assembly’s chairman of the education committee, met with union representatives on Thursday morning.
“He asked us to share our viewpoints, and we gave him a formula for going back to work as a way out of this. The Ministry of Education has demonstrated its commitment, but the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) hasn’t made any statements other than to serve us with a court order.
Kuppet secretary-general Akello Misori stated, “They had spread it on social media even before we were served.
Following their meeting with Mr. Melly, the union representatives got together independently and decided to contact TSC CEO Nancy Macharia to ask for a meeting. The commission had not responded by the time this article went to press.
“We sent the letter after giving it some thought, and TSC has informed us that they are looking into it. I am unable to cancel the strike, though. Mr. Misori stated, “It can only be done by the individuals who approved it [the Kuppet national governing body].
The letter asks for a meeting to discuss ending the current strike and finding a peaceful way to end the conflict.
The letter, dated August 29, 2024, emphasizes the union’s resolve to find a solution without pursuing drawn-out judicial proceedings.
On Tuesday, the TSC was able to secure court orders that suspended the strike until the outcome of a petition it had filed. There have been reports of protests across the nation as a result of the instructors’ defiance of the directive.
“In light of the fast-moving dynamic of the strike, particularly the proceedings instituted in court by the commission, we would wish to handle the matters with you to avoid any protracted battles,” the letter reads.
Kuppet officials were received in the office of Francis Atwoli, the secretary-general of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu), on Wednesday. He asked TSC to start negotiations with the union and reaffirmed his support for the walkout.
The Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has met with Kuppet officials as part of his efforts to put an end to the strike. They haven’t yet had direct conversations with TSC, though.
The union requested that striking teachers carry out their employment boycott on Wednesday. On August 26, 2024, a Monday, the strike began.
Read: Kuppet urges teachers on strike to carry out their protests
“As the third day of the strike approaches, we implore our members to stay focused on their picketing until the union has executed a return-to-work plan that takes into account our complaints. “The war rages on,” Mr. Misori declared.
Simultaneously, the TSC announces that it will not meet with Kuppet until the teachers’ strike is called off.
The commission responded to the union’s request for a meeting by saying that while it was prepared to work with the union, it should abide by a court order that put a stop to the strike on Tuesday.
TSC Director for Legal Labor and Industrial Relations Cavin Anyuor wrote to Misori stating that the commission has paid teachers’ arrears backdated to July 1, 2024, and has executed the last part of the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Mr. Misori had emailed Nancy Macharia, the head of the TSC, earlier in the day to ask for a meeting yesterday afternoon. However, it now seems that the planned discussions will end in impasse.
Additionally, the panel has addressed every grievance brought out by the union. In order to enable parties to continue with bipartite negotiations on any unresolved grievance, the commission maintains that the union comply with the court order and withdraws the ongoing industrial action, as stated in the letter written by Mr. Anyuor.
This is in accordance with the terms of the court order dated August 28, 2024, which has been duly served upon you.
“As soon as you follow the court’s orders, the commission is prepared to begin working with you.
Secret initiatives to put an end to the teachers’ strike.
