At last the meetings between teachers unions and TSC have ended and all teachers can hope for is a solution to their grievances. TSC met officials of Kenya union of post primary teachers (Kuppet) yesterday and today it ended with the giant teachers union Knut (Kenya national union of teachers). But it was discovered that TSC will meet representatives of headteachers in another meeting tomorrow. Todays meet was the most important considering Kuppet had declared they will not go on strike while Knut insisted they will down their tools should schools open without their demands being met. Knut has agreed to shelve the strike which was scheduled for September till the joint committee report their findings.
Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion wants TSC not discuss contentious labour issues with teachers’ associations in reference to a planned meeting with representatives of head teachers. He warned that if this happened, it would lead to a strike. Sources said Knut got upset after it discovered that delocalisation (mass transfer of teachers) and performance appraisals would form part of the key agenda tomorrow, when Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) officials meet TSC. “How can the employer talk to teachers directly on unprofessional transfers which is a labour issue and duly listed as a point of dispute?” asked Sossion. In a letter dated August 22, Knut demanded the immediate withdrawal of the invitation letter by TSC to Kessha officials.
“We thus demand your immediate recall of the invitation letter to Kessha and engage with relevant entities known and recognised in law,” said Sossion in the letter.
In a statement to newsrooms, TSC said the meeting took place in an “open, cordial environment and addressed issues touching on promotions of teachers, career progression, teacher appraisals and transfers”. TSC head of communications Kihumba Kamotho said the two parties agreed to a retreat between September 30 and October 5 to build consensus on emerging issues. But Sossion insisted the strike threat remains, adding that the union will reject any resolutions made during the meeting between TSC and “non-parties” to the labour issues. “Whoever TSC meets between now and our next meeting is none of our problem. But if they insist on meeting Kessha then we have our cards to play. We will not entertain any sideshow meetings,” said Sossion.
The meeting between Knut and TSC started on well as early as 10 am in the morning until the officials of the union tabled ten demands which they claim will be the basis for industrial harmony. But in a quick rejoinder TSC in an apologetic mood persuaded Knut to have some of the issues including teacher promotions discussed in a later meeting after forming a join committee to look into the matter. The joint committee which will include parties from both sides will start the consultations from 3oth September to 5th October and report the recommendations back to the commission for appropriate action.
The next meeting between TSC and Knut is scheduled for September 30. Details from yesterday’s meeting reveal that the committee established will spearhead the full implementation of the CBA, including the issues in contention. Each side will produce four members to the committee. During the meeting, Knut insisted that schemes of service be retained or remodelled to cater for all teachers’ progression. “We restated our demands and no teacher should fill those performance appraisal forms when schools open in September,” said Sossion.
Teachers got a boost last week after president Uhuru ordered for review of teacher transfers. The transfers mostly targeted headteachers who were posted to areas outside their home counties. The president said the transfers were breaking teachers families but later TSC CEO Nancy Macharia also ordered for review of teacher appraisal policies. The issue of teacher promotions is still a hot potatoe, it is estimated that around 30,000 teachers are yet to be promoted after acquiring diplomas and degrees from institutions of higher learning. Another lot is also seeking promotions after stagnating in one job group for more than seven years.
TSC already said teachers must first undergo training for them to be considered for promotion. The training will be mandatory and TSC have developed modules which the teachers will take. Teachers are also expected to pay for these modules. Knut has in several occasions protested this and said if teachers have to under the training then the employer must take the cost.