TSC plays hardball and orders Kuppet to halt the strike before they meet.
Just hours after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) was approached by the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) to discuss ending the nationwide walkout, the TSC has said that it will not engage further discussions until the lobby ends the work stoppage.
Kuppet requested a meeting today, Thursday, and the Commission responded by saying that while it is prepared to work with the union, the latter must abide by a Labour Court ruling that put a stop to the strike on Tuesday.
The TSC director for Legal Labor and Industrial Relations, Mr. Cavin Anyuor, wrote a letter to Kuppet Secretary-General Akello Misori stating that the Commission had paid teachers’ arrears backdated to July 1, 2024, and had implemented the last phase of the 2021–2025 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
TSC is replying to a letter that Mr. Misori wrote to TSC Chair Nancy Macharia asking for a Thursday afternoon meeting.
On August 25, 2024, Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, Akelo Misori, speaks to the media in Nairobi while accompanied by other officials.
However, it now seems that the planned discussions will end in impasse.
Additionally, the Commission has addressed every grievance brought forth by the union. In light of this, the Commission maintains that the union should comply with the court order and end the current industrial action in order to allow the parties to proceed with bipartite negotiations on any outstanding grievances.
This is in accordance with the terms of the court order dated August 28, 2024, which has been duly served upon you, according to Mr. Anyuor’s letter.
“The Commission is ready to engage with you at the earliest opportunity once you comply with the orders of the court,” he states.
Mr. Misori had earlier said Nation that the only body with the authority to end the strike is Kuppet’s national governing council.
Francis Atwoli, the secretary-general of Cotu, referred to the court ruling as TSC “bullying” on Wednesday.
Cotu boss Atwoli to TSC: “Mgomo utaendelea” over the Kuppet strike
In order to discuss the issue, Kuppet representatives met with the head of the National Assembly’s Education Committee on Thursday.
TSC plays hardball and orders Kuppet to halt the strike before they meet.
