- Knut says they communicated their grievances to the Teachers Service Commission and the Ministry of Labour but no action being taken thus far.
- Among their demands is the full implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and hiring of 20,000 teachers.
Image: FILE
The Kenya National Union of Teachers has issued a fresh seven-day strike notice to the Teachers Service Commission after conciliatory interventions failed to forestall the industrial action.
KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu said on Friday the union communicated their grievances to the teacher's employer and the Ministry of Labour but no action has been taken thus far.
“I have today issued a strike notice. Teachers shall down their tools and withdraw their labour and schools will not open until this matter is resolved. We have communicated to the employer several times but they have not responded,” Oyuu said.
He said he issued the strike notice on the directions of the National Executive Council for all Knut branches through their executive secretaries to ensure teachers withdraw labour upon expiry of the notice.
Oyuu was speaking to the media after a meeting of the NEC.
Knut and sister union, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), had on August 7 outlined six issues they wanted addressed failing which teachers would go on strike from August 26.
They demanded full implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), conversion of Junior Secondary School teachers, recruitment of 20,000 teachers on permanent and pensionable terms,
They also accused TSC of breaching the agreement for failing to implement the second phase of the Addendum effective from July 1, 2024, for all teachers, including basic salaries and allowances.
“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 the 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 laws,” they said.
On Tuesday, August 13, Labour CS Alfred Mutua met with officials of the Knut National Steering Council for talks aimed at averting the nationwide teachers’ strike.
Besides concerns on the CBA, Mutua said the meeting also delved into concerns on the teachers’ medical scheme, non-remittance of Sacco and loan deductions, and delays in retirement benefit payments.
“I assured the union leaders of my commitment to finding swift resolutions to these issues and pledged to collaborate with my Cabinet colleagues and other relevant government bodies to address their concerns,” Mutua said.
Mutua said the meeting was a testament to the government’s concerted efforts to ensure the interests of workers are safeguarded and that industrial relations remain cordial.
But Oyuu said nothing had been forthcoming since that statement was made.
“So I’m crafting a strike notice immediately. We have left no stone unturned; we have communicated to the employer severally, but the employer has not responded. We have communicated to the Ministry of Labour by registering a dispute,” Oyuu said.