TSC is starving the union of cash, leaving Kuppet in a tough spot.
The revelation that TSC has purportedly sought to deprive the union of donations from members may soon drive the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers to the brink.
For many years, TSC has been taking direct salary deductions from teachers and sending them to the unions on a regular basis.
The primary source of revenue for unions is member deductions, and in light of the current strike, Kuppet is anticipated to be severely impacted by the recent action taken by the Teachers Service Commission.
The events occur at a time when the union may have relied on these deductions to help with the costs of mobilization, including the provision of logistics to local leaders spearheading the strike.
TSC acted quickly to fully compensate teachers for August without deducting union dues, a move that is anticipated to severely harm Kuppet.
The decision to halt the collection would severely impair the teachers’ unions’ ability to collect money from their members directly.
Under the terms of the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the employers of teachers began paying salaries on Thursday. The increased salary was retroactive to July 1.
As part of its promise to addressing the concerns brought up by teachers, the government granted Sh13.5 billion to help with the CBA’s implementation.
It was confirmed by many Kuppet branch officials that teachers’ August payslips were purportedly issued without the customary deductions for union dues.
This is the most recent in a string of disputes between Kuppet and the TSC following the employer’s legal action to force the union to end its five-day strike.
According to union representatives, TSC’s nonpayment of union dues is a calculated move to undermine the organization and undermine its ability to retain legal counsel for the current legal dispute.
The union faces months without resources if the August deductions are not reflected in the paystubs of Kuppet members, given that the TSC case is scheduled for hearing on September 5.
“Union members would need to find alternative ways to support the organization if they want a strong union,” Kuppet secretary general Akello Misori stated in response to the withholding of dues.
With 34,000 members, Kuppet brings in over Sh35 million a month to fund its branches, pay wages to employees, and cover other operating expenses including as legal fees.
Around Sh2 billion is collected yearly by Kuppet and Knut from teachers all over the nation as membership dues, at the rates of 1.8% and 2% of base pay, respectively.
As the state worked to destroy the union in 2021, Knut was absent from the Ministry of Labor’s list of unions authorized to collect dues from members.
According to a legal notice at the time, Kuppet was authorized to take Sh300 from its members each month.
According to the Labour Relations Act of 2007, TSC has ten days to transmit the Kuppet union deductions from its unionized employees.
At a time when the government’s relations with Knut Union had soured, Kuppet had benefited immensely from the mass defection of Knut instructors.
While Kuppet’s membership soared to 109,000 in 2019, Knut’s membership fell to 15,000 from a peak of 187,471.
Kuppet urged its members to carry out the walkout on Friday, denouncing TSC for allegedly attempting to muzzle union members’ voices.
Before any negotiations can start, TSC has requested Kuppet to end the strike.
Kuppet said that the TSC had acted in bad faith by downplaying the strike and the concerns voiced by teachers in response to court directives, which the secretary general claimed were misunderstood.
“We’re not going to bargain from fear. TSC needs to realize that this is not a small problem. We formally requested a meeting and drafted a letter in response to the TSC’s informal request for confirmation of our sincerity. But we soon realized that their true goal was to extort us,” the SG stated.
The strike was ruled unlawful by the labor court on Tuesday.
“Pending hearing and determination of the application inter parties, an order of temporary injunction is granted to the petitioner, restraining the respondent, its officials, members and employees from withdrawing labour or participating in industrial action,” the judge stated.
September 5, 2024 is the date he set for the matter’s mention.
TSC is starving the union of cash, leaving Kuppet in a tough spot.
