Teachers furious with the return to work formula after KUPPET calls off the strike

Godfrey Gwako

2 months ago

Teachers furious with the return to work formula after KUPPET calls off the strike: The Kenya National Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has called off the strike.

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KUPPET NEB meeting with TSC commissioners

According to the KUPPET secretary general, Akelo Misori, the national executive board (NEB) reached that decision after a meeting with TSC commissioners. Misori urged teachers to go back to class immediately. He argued that this is in compliance to a court order obtained by TSC last week.

The pending issues will be discussed between KUPPET and TSC as teachers resume duty.

What has shocked teachers is how KUPPET’s NEB went against their own national governing council (NGC) decision to proceed with the week-long strike. During the NGC meeting held on Sunday, September 1, 2024, the strike was to go on until TSC addresses their concerns.

Irreducible minimums

Among the ‘irreducible minimums’ was reviewing the CPG guidelines. Another one was absorbing the 46,000 JSS teachers on permanent and pensionable basis. KUPPET also demanded that the TSC must promote over 130,000 teachers who have stagnated in some job groups.

As a tactic, TSC decided to withhold KUPPET’s union dues for the month of August. This must have sent some cold chills down the spine of Akelo Misori.

During her address about TSC’s meeting with KUPPET, CEO Nancy Macharia did not mention employment of JSS teachers on permanent basis. The KUPPET NEB and TSC commissioners did not mention reviewing of CPG guidelines. This has left many teachers heartbroken.

“Why did NEB have to go against the NGC resolutions? After reading TSC’s statement, it saddens me that JSS Confirmation wasn’t even mentioned in the so-called deliberations held today. What kind of embarrassment is this?” wondered Laban Ouko, the Kisii County KUPPET chairperson.

Return to work formula

The only thing that TSC CEO Nancy Macharia mentioned was that the commission will not victimize any teacher for participating in the strike. This means that there are still pending issues between teachers and their employer.

Some schools had released their learners because of the strike.

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