JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN KUPPET AND KNUT ON THE PLANNED NATIONWIDE STRIKE BY TEACHERS
(DATED 7 AUGUST 2024)
Having observed the steady deterioration in the conditions of work for teachers, including the Commission’s abrogation of binding legal instruments, KUPPET and KNUT have today joined forces to demand the immediate resolution of the following six issues causing unrest among our members:
1) Full implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA. The operating Collective Bargaining Agreements between the two unions and the Teachers Service Commission were signed in June 2021 and amended by an Addendum in August 2023.
The CBAs have full force of the law, having been registered at the Employment and Labour Relations Court in accordance with the Industrial Charter, the Constitution of Kenya and the applicable labour laws.
The Commission is now in breach of the Agreement, having failed to implement Phase Two of the Addendum effective from 1 July 2024 for all teachers.
We demand that the TSC discharge its legal responsibilities and immediately remit the teachers’ emoluments for July 2024, including basic salaries and allowances, as provided under the Agreements.
2) Conversion of JSS teachers and new employment.
The unions demand the immediate confirmation to all current intern teachers of their employment on permanent and pensionable terms effective 1 July 2024 and the remittance of their full salaries for the month which are now in arrears.
We also demand the recruitment and appointment of 20,000 new teachers on permanent and pensionable terms to address the huge deficit in Junior Secondary Schools.
3) Promotion of 130,000 stagnated teachers.
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 in 2023, but failed to get their appointments only due to the lack of a budget for their promotions.
4) Teachers’ medical cover.
Despite the government’s allocation of Sh15 billion towards the teachers’ medical scheme in the current financial year as per contract, the Commission has abjectly failed to meet its part of the bargain to its insurance partners. Our members are in an untenable situation where they can hardly access healthcare services.
The unions are concerned by the reduction in the current Appropriations Act of the provision for teachers’ medical cover by Sh11,899,413,833 which will cut the benefits to teachers by 50 percent.
The Commission has no option but to source for funds so that it can live to its commitments under the scheme contract and restore healthcare services to our members.
It is important to note that the Scheme operates in a three-year framework, with the last year due to start on 1 December 2024 at a cost of Sh20.7 billion.
5) Non-remittance of loans and NSSF.
Since the commencement of the Finance Act 2023, the Commission has been deducting NSSF on teachers’ salaries without remitting the same to the Fund.
Likewise, since June 2024, the Commission has deducted and not remitted funds for third-party agents including commercial banks.
Through these acts of omission, teachers are exposed to non-compliance sanctions and pecuniary embarrassment due to default on their obligations.
The Commission must urgently make good of its responsibilities to remit tax and other deductions made at source.
6) Commitment on new CBA round.
Less than one year to the termination of the 2021-2025 CBA, the Commission is still buying time on the new CBA round.
Whereas both unions have contemporaneously indicated our demands including Post-graduate allowance; Per Diems for games teachers; Risk Allowance for science teachers; Special Duty and Acting Allowances for teachers not substantially appointed, among others, we need a structured platform to negotiate these issues within the CBA framework.
Given the weight of these grievances and their impact on stability in the sector, KUPPET and KNUT have today given the TSC seven days to address each of these to our members’ satisfaction, failure of which we will set in motion plans for a nationwide strike starting on Monday 26 August 2024.
SIGNED:
KUPPET SECRETARY GENERAL
MAURICE AKELO MISORI
KNUT SECRETARY GENERAL
HENRY COLLINS OYUU