Knut calls off planned strike, asks teachers to report to work Monday
The Kenya National Union of Teachers has withdrawn the teachers’ strike notice set to elapse on August 25, midnight.
Knut said there is progress in addressing the issues they had raised and commitment to resolving all of them.
“The NEC has therefore, today August 25, 2024, agreed to withdraw the strike action notice which was elapsing midnight August 25, 2024, since we have commenced addressing the remaining matters administratively,” the statement read.
Failure to address all the issues raised, Knut said they will resume the strike notice adding that it has only been withdrawn.
“In light of the latest developments, we direct our teachers to resume duty effective Monday, August 26, 2024. We call upon our esteemed members to remain steadfast as we resolve the matters at hand,” he said.
Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu said the National Executive Council raised five demands to be met.
They wanted the immediate implementation of the second phase of the 2021/2025 amended CBA signed between the Teacher Service Commission and Knut.
The Union demanded immediate remittance of the third-party deductions accrued to their respective organizations.
They also wanted an immediate conversion of 46,000 Junior School teachers to Permanent and Pensionable Terms and the employment of 20,000 new teachers.
The union wanted the promotion of 130,000 stagnated teachers on various job grades.
They further demanded the immediate remittance of capitation to the Medical Insurer to allow service providers to offer medical services to sick teachers and their families.
According to the Knut SG, on August 19, they held a meeting with the Teachers Service Commission to deliberate on the issues raised.
In the deliberations, the five demands they agreed on included the 2nd phase of the salary award for teachers was given and factored into their salaries in arrears for August 2024.
“This gives room for the commencement of the CBA 2025/2029 cycle concerning Section Three on effective date and duration and specifically Section 3.3 which states that components of a running CBA can only be repealed by a new one,” he said.
Third-party deductions were remitted to Commercial Banks, Teachers’ Saccos, Teachers Investment Schemes and other legal liabilities.
On the promotion of teachers, the Commission promoted 51,232 teachers through competitive interviews and the process is ongoing.
On the teachers’ Medical Scheme, the Commission asserted that teachers will continue accessing both Public and Private hospitals for services.
“The NEC however, is not fully convinced with the answers to the demands,” he added.
Oyuu raised concerns about political utterances and unconfirmed promises from public leaders and government representatives saying they are confusing on some sensitive matters.
“For instance, the conversion of 46,000 intern teachers to Permanent and Pensionable and the employment of 20,000 more to address teachers’ shortage. This remains a serious matter that if addressed will help improve the quality of education even as the Nation transitions from the old curriculum to CBC,” he added.
