TSC Insists KUPPET Ends Teachers Strike Before Talks Begin
The Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) has firmly stated that secondary school teachers must end their strike before any negotiations can take place.
This ultimatum followed a request by the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) to meet with the commission to discuss a return-to-work formula.
TSC emphasized that discussions would only proceed once the teachers complied with a court order that had suspended the strike.
In a letter to TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori stressed that KUPPET is a law-abiding institution willing to resolve the ongoing issues amicably.
Misori’s letter was sent shortly after the court order suspending the strike, which had entered its fourth day despite the legal directive.
TSC’s Justification
TSC maintained that it had adhered to the final phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and had paid teachers’ salary arrears, backdated to July 1, 2024.
Additionally, the commission claimed to have addressed all grievances raised by the union in a previous letter dated August 19, 2024. Despite these assurances, teachers remained on strike, citing dissatisfaction with the salary increment and other issues.
Across Kenya, teachers continued their protests, rejecting the salary increment announced by TSC. In Kisii County, Teachers Updates observed a stark contrast to the usual bustle at Daraja Mbili Secondary School, which was eerily silent as teachers refrained from work.
Some students used the time to study independently, while the negotiations between KUPPET and TSC dragged on.
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Teachers in Kisii County made their grievances clear by staging a demonstration that painted the streets yellow.
They marched through the town, paralyzing transport and carrying a casket as a symbolic protest against the salary increment, which they deemed insignificant. A similar standoff occurred in Lamu County, where teachers accused TSC of reneging on prior agreements.
In Vihiga County, teachers demanded the remittance of statutory deductions to the appropriate institutions and the proper alignment of their medical cover under a functional scheme.
Similar concerns were echoed by teachers in Machakos County, where demonstrations took place in three sub-counties. The teachers are also calling for promotions and acting allowances for those in temporary positions.
Specific Demands and Actions
In Nandi County, Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers joined their KUPPET colleagues in the protests, pushing for the immediate confirmation of 46,000 intern JSS teachers.
This widespread dissatisfaction highlights the teachers’ frustration with the current state of their employment and the perceived inadequacy of the responses from TSC.
TSC Insists KUPPET Ends Teachers Strike Before Talks Begin
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