Union Wars: KNUT and KUPPET’s Fight for Junior Secondary School Teachers
In a strategic move to expand their membership, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) are fighting for the support of junior secondary school (JSS) teachers.
This competition aims to gain a substantial increase in membership and revenue from membership fees.
The two unions have approached the 39,550 JSS teachers, promising support if the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) transitions them to permanent and pensionable (P&P) employment.
In addition to membership dues, non-member teachers benefiting from union-negotiated deals are also required to pay monthly agency fees.
However, the JSS group’s spokesperson, Omari Omari, stated that JSS teachers prefer to establish their own union.
He mentioned that while KUPPET has sought help from the TSC, the National Treasury, and parliamentary committees, KNUT has not provided any support.
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Instead, KNUT has asked them to return to class while they negotiate on their behalf, and encouraged them to join the union.
In contrast, KUPPET has supported their fight for rights, offering training in negotiation skills before a meeting with the Labour Committee of the National Assembly.
Despite appreciating KUPPET’s offer, Omari noted that JSS teachers feel they do not belong to either union and are demanding their union.
JSS teachers have been on strike since the beginning of the second term, demanding better employment terms.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) ruling that the TSC violated the teachers’ rights by hiring them as interns despite their qualifications triggered the strike.
Julius Melly, the Chair of the Education Committee, confirmed on Monday that the Budget and Appropriations Committee has allocated Sh8.3 billion to support JSS teachers by employing them on P&P terms.
Melly informed the Budget and Appropriations Committee that starting July 1, 2024, these teachers would benefit from the new employment status, initially slated for transition in January 2025.
He emphasized that the TSC should streamline the recruitment process to fully utilize the allocated resources at the beginning of the next financial year, converting 26,000 intern teachers to P&P terms starting in July 2024 and January 2025.
Meanwhile, John Melvin, the coordinator for the teachers in Westlands Sub-county, stated that they would not return to class without a clear agreement.
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He expressed skepticism about the July employment promise, calling it political propaganda.
Melvin highlighted that while KNUT discourages demonstrations, KUPPET has offered support, especially outside Nairobi. He firmly stated that there is no way they will join KNUT.
KNUT typically represents primary school teachers, while KUPPET represents secondary school and college teachers. Kenya currently has 219,727 primary school teachers and 125,563 secondary school teachers, though not all are union members.
Union Wars: KNUT and KUPPET’s Fight for Junior Secondary School Teachers
