Kuppet calls off strike following TSC negotiations

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) has called off the teachers’ strike after a week of protests. 

Kuppet and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) met on Monday and agreed on a plan for teachers to resume their duties.

In a joint press briefing, Kuppet’s Secretary General Akelo Misori stated that the union has suspended the strike after reaching a preliminary agreement with the TSC.

“In the ensuing arrangement and in compliance with the court order which is coming up on September 5, Thursday, from the union side, we suspend our strike and ask all our teachers to go back to class pending the speedy resolutions of these matters as already agreed upon between us and the commission,” he said.

Nancy Macharia, TSC CEO, stated that the commission and KUPPET had reached a deal after their discussion.

“After a day long meeting, we are happy to report to the nation that we have reached an amicable settlement which will enable our teachers to resume duty immediately,” she said.

Ms Macharia announced that the government has allocated funds to implement the second phase of the CBA, starting from July 1, 2024.

“The government provided funds for the implementation of the second phase of the CBA and all our teachers have benefited. We have ensured that the second phase of the CBA has been paid together with any arrears,” Ms Macharia noted.

On August 21 2021, the government vowed to fund the second phase of the teachers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which was scheduled to begin on July 1, 2024.

Nancy Macharia also highlighted that the TSC has already elevated 51,200 teachers.

“The Commission shall continue promoting teachers as and when budgetary allocations are availed by Parliament. Negotiations for a new CBA will commence once KUPPET submits their memorandum of demands. Both parties have agreed that any remaining issues will be resolved through further negotiations, as is customary,” she added.

TSC assured that no teacher will be victimised.

Many schools across the country reported a significant decrease in student attendance on August 26, the official reopening date, after teachers vowed not to return to work until their demands were fully addressed. While the strike forced students from public schools to remain at home, their peers in private schools continued with learning.