Kenyan Teachers’ Unions Threaten Nationwide Strike Over Unresolved Issues with TSC

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) have joined forces to address a series of unresolved issues with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

The unions have threatened to call for a nationwide teachers’ strike if the TSC fails to implement six key resolutions within the next seven days.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu said time has come to down our tools due to unfulfilled promises

“KNUT and KUPPET have today joined forces to demand the immediate resolution of the following six issues causing unrest among our members.” Mr Oyuu told reporters

The unions are demanding the full implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the conversion of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers to new employment status, and the immediate confirmation of all current intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms, along with the remittance of their full salaries for the month.

“The unions demand the immediate confirmation of all current intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms effective July 1, 2024, and the remittance of their full salaries for the month, which are now arrears.”The KNUT secretary general said

Furthermore, the unions are concerned about the reduction in the current Appropriations Act of the teachers’ medical cover by KSh 11,899,413,833, which they say will cut the benefits to teachers by 50%.

KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori stated, “The unions are concerned by the reduction in the current Appropriations Act of the teachers’ medical cover by Ksh.11,899,413,833, which will cut the benefits to teachers by 50 per cent.”

The unions are also calling on the TSC to consider promoting 130,000 stagnated teachers and to implement the teachers’ medical cover according to the 2021-2025 CBA.

Oyuu noted, “The unions demand the immediate confirmation by the Commission that it will promote 130,000 teachers who have stagnated in their current job grades within this financial year. These teachers were already shortlisted and interviewed for new grades within this financial year.”

Additionally, the unions have demanded that the TSC stop deducting NSSF contributions from teachers’ salaries without remitting the same to the fund and commit to a new CBA where they want risk allowances for science teachers, postgraduate allowances, per diems for games teachers, and special duty and acting allowances for teachers not substantially appointed.

The unions have made it clear that they will down their tools on August 26, 2024, if their demands are not met, potentially leading to a nationwide teachers’ strike.