Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Alfred Mutua has issued a statement regarding the planned teachers’ strike ahead of schools re-opening.
In his statement on Friday, August 16, Mutua urged the unions to allow the new Ministers some time to review their issues and engage with them promptly.
He emphasized that go-slows and strikes should be considered only as a last resort, after all avenues for dialogue have been exhausted.
“I am confident that the unions, which represent the interests of workers, are aware of the current economic, social, and political situation in the country. I believe they are patriotic and forward-thinking and therefore urge them to embrace dialogue,” reads the statement in part.
Mutua Speaks on Teachers’ Strike
The CS mentioned that he had been in talks with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) leadership as part of efforts to provide an amicable and pragmatic resolution to industrial issues.
“I am aware that the Ministry of Education and TSC are actively holding internal consultations on the unions’ concerns, and a way forward is forthcoming,” he said.
“I believe they are patriotic and forward-thinking and therefore urge them to embrace dialogue.”
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Additionally, he stated that his Ministry, as a neutral mediator, is introducing an early warning system to address potential industrial unrest by encouraging open dialogue and genuine commitments from all parties involved.
Alfred Mutua on Tuesday, August 13, met KNUT officials to discuss implementation of the 2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) ahead of an impending teachers’ strike.
This is after KNUT and its sister union, KUPPET on August 7, issued a seven-day notice for the government to address several teachers’ concerns failure to which the unions would direct teachers to go on strike from August 26.
Demands of the Teachers’ Unions
The impending industrial action stems from the government’s failure to allocate Ksh13.3 billion for the implementation of the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), a crucial agreement that was negotiated, signed, and deposited in court.
The first phase of the CBA was non-monetary, but the second phase, which was supposed to take effect on 1st July this year, promised a salary increment of between 7% and 9%.
Consequently, the delay in its implementation by TSC has led to growing dissatisfaction among educators.
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Speaking during a National Governing Council meeting, KUPPET secretary General Akelo Misori noted that the first phase of the CBA Addendum was dated back to July 2023 and implemented in August.
“Teachers missed their salary increment for July 2024 and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has turned a blind eye and ear to our demands, ignoring our pleas for better working conditions and fair compensation,” Misori stated.
“This blatant disregard for the wellbeing of teachers is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated any longer. We deserve better, we deserve to be heard, and we deserve to be treated with respect.”
Misori added that TSC has compromised their Medical Insurance cover, putting their health and wellbeing at risk adding that many hospitals no longer honour the medical schemes for the teachers.
On its part, KNUT is advocating for the permanent employment of intern teachers and the hiring of an additional 20,000 teachers to address the current staffing shortfall.
Additionally, the union raised issues concerning the operation of the teachers’ non-remittance of SACCO and loan deductions, and delays in the payment of retirement benefits for teachers exiting the service.
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