Why there were differences between KNUT and KUPPET on the teachers’ strike.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has provided an explanation for its choice to back out of a strike warning that it and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) jointly issued.
Collins Oyuu, the secretary-general of KNUT, stated on Spice FM on Friday, August 30, that the union canceled the scheduled industrial action after a significant number of their requests were met.
The implementation of the second phase of the modified Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was the main issue that precipitated the walkout.
“We assessed the significant problem that had been fixed, particularly the execution of Phase 2. Teachers have collected their arrears for the months of July and August after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) implemented this phase, according to Oyuu.
The first strike notification was sent by KNUT on August 25, which was also the first day of the third term.
The union met with the National Executive Council again to review their plan of action after sending out the notification.
The demands of the union included elevating 130,000 teachers who had been sitting in various job grades, employing 20,000 new teachers, and converting 46,000 junior secondary school instructors to permanent, pensionable employment. Junior Secondary School teachers around the country went on strike in May to demand contract letters.
Oyuu pointed out that some instructors were subject to disciplinary proceedings and warning letters from the TSC, which undermined the strike’s efficacy.
He voiced worries about managing a split team, where some players would be in the classroom and some might be on strike.
Additionally, KNUT asked TSC to send third-party deductions that had accumulated but not been paid, like bank and SACCO loans.
Oyuu attested that a technical team was working on teacher promotions and that TSC had corrected these deductions. KNUT also confirmed that hospitals affiliated with Minet were providing instructors with the agreed-upon care.
KNUT eventually rescinded the strike notification that it had originally issued on the same day as KUPPET.
After the strike notice was given, TSC called a meeting with KNUT Sec-Gen to negotiate terms. A sub-meeting was then arranged to advise KUPPET and the National Executive Council on the future course of action.
However, KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori expressed surprise at KNUT’s withdrawal and questioned how quickly teacher demands had been resolved.
“Despite assurances at our most recent meeting, the TSC had not provided a clear implementation schedule, so we were surprised to learn that the demands had been met,” Misori stated.
He called KNUT’s move “treacherous and dishonest,” and he wondered how their counterparts could come to an agreement so swiftly to put the strike on hold.
Why there were differences between KNUT and KUPPET on the teachers’ strike.
