TSC Orders School Attendance Data For Disciplinary Action on Striking Teachers
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), their union, may face disciplinary action after disregarding a court order to return to work on Tuesday. Despite the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) warning against absenteeism, Kuppet instructed its members to ignore the directive.
As a result, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has directed its officers across the country to collect attendance data for the purpose of issuing show cause letters.
Cavin Anyuor, the Legal Director of TSC, stated that the union had received the court order halting the strike. Anyuor emphasized that the commission would monitor union members’ compliance and expect union officials to follow the order.
Meanwhile, the Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) urged TSC to withdraw the court case to facilitate a resolution through a return-to-work formula.
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Cotu’s Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, suggested that failure to do so could lead to the victimization of teachers involved in organizing the strike.
TSC’s Response and Legal Actions
Fresh information indicates that TSC plans to file contempt of court proceedings due to the union’s defiance. A senior TSC official stated that they are collecting data on teacher attendance and will include video clips of union officials and their press statements as evidence in the contempt case.
The TSC’s stance is bolstered by reports that enhanced salaries, in line with the second phase of the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), have been processed and are set for release. This development could potentially narrow Kuppet’s focus to junior secondary school teachers.
Kuppet’s Secretary General, Akello Misori, accused TSC of acting in negligent faith by using courts to intimidate teachers.
ALSO READ: KUPPET Tells Parents to Keep Children Home As Strike Continues
He stated that the union would seek a court interpretation of the order halting the strike, arguing that the order was outdated since the strike had already begun. Misori also criticized the order for failing to protect teachers participating in the strike.
The strike has now entered its fourth day, with no significant progress in negotiations to resolve the deadlock. Misori stated that TSC has taken an advisory approach to the industrial relations issue, considering themselves superior and requiring compliance with the law.
TSC Orders School Attendance Data For Disciplinary Action on Striking KUPPET Teachers
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