Kuppet Eats Humble Pie: Union Calls Off Strike with Same Deal It Previously Rejected.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has officially suspended its strike, bringing an end to the week-long disruption in secondary schools across the country. This decision comes after the union accepted the same offer it had previously rejected two weeks ago, a deal that had already been embraced by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), leading to their earlier suspension of the strike.
According to insider sources, a higher government office exerted pressure on KUPPET to end the strike. The message was clear: the government had no intention of meeting any additional demands. During a crucial meeting at the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) headquarters, it became apparent that the meeting had to conclude with an agreement to end the industrial action. Consequently, the parties did not sign a new return-to-work agreement. Instead, they reiterated the same statement from a previous meeting at the Kenya School of Government, dealing a significant blow to KUPPET’s bargaining position.
Two weeks earlier, the government promised KUPPET and KNUT KSh 13 billion for the second phase of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), meeting the unions’ primary demand. However, after releasing this amount, the government stated it would not allocate any additional funds. The unions also received assurances that Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers would gain permanent and pensionable status in January. Additionally, the government committed to resuming the teachers’ medical cover after a suspension due to unpaid dues, and to remitting third-party deductions, including loans taken by teachers, to the respective creditors.
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The TSC also committed to promoting 51,000 teachers as a start, with the remaining 130,000 teachers to be considered later. This progress prompted KNUT to call off its strike, but KUPPET chose to press on, demanding the immediate conversion of JSS teachers to permanent and pensionable status.
As the strike continued, KUPPET introduced new demands. They called for a review of the continuous progression guidelines, which they deemed punitive and responsible for the stagnation of teachers in various job groups. The union also sought compensation for teachers serving in acting administrative roles.
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However, the strike faced legal challenges when a court suspended it last week. With the threat of legal consequences and the risk of victimization of its members, KUPPET found itself cornered. Sources within the union revealed that by Monday, KUPPET had decided to meet with TSC and suspend the strike. The deal reached yesterday is essentially the same as the one offered two weeks ago, which has led to criticism from some quarters regarding the effectiveness of the union’s actions.
With the strike suspended, over 125,000 KUPPET members are expected to return to classrooms today. KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori and TSC CEO Nancy Macharia addressed the media, emphasizing the importance of resolving pending issues. Misori assured teachers that the strike suspension would allow for the speedy resolution of outstanding matters, while Macharia stressed that no participating teachers would face repercussions.
The suspension of the strike has brought relief to students, who had lost up to 36 lessons during the first week of the strike. However, with just eight weeks remaining before national exams, there are concerns about the impact of the lost instructional time and the potential need for adjustments to the exam schedule.
In conclusion, while the suspension of the strike marks a temporary resolution, the focus now shifts to the recovery of lost time and the ongoing negotiations between KUPPET, TSC, and the government. The outcome of these negotiations will be crucial in determining the long-term welfare of teachers and the quality of education in Kenya.
Kuppet Eats Humble Pie: Union Calls Off Strike with Same Deal It Previously Rejected.
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