KUPPET Calls Off Teachers' Strike, Directs Tutors to Resume Classes
KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori on Monday, September 2 announced that teachers can now return to work
Danflow Lindwe 
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has called off the teachers' strike that had entered its second week.
KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori on Monday, September 2 announced that teachers can now return to work, acknowledging that the strike had caused a lot of anxiety in the country.
Misori added that discussions are already underway with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to ensure teachers get the increments promised to them in the 2021-2025 Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA).
"In the ensuing arrangement, in compliance with the court order which is coming up on the 5th that is Thursday. From the union's side we suspend the strike and ask all our teachers to go back to class," Misori said.
Teachers taking part in the nationwide strike. /PHOTO
He assured that the salary increment matter would be resolved speedily as agreed between the union and the commission.
Misori set the record straight by noting that the struggle was about the implementation of the CBA, assuring that the dues the teachers were fighting for have now been paid.
“We were also concerned about the compromised medical cover because medical facilities were sending away the teachers, including those who have terminal conditions,” he said.
Misori noted that the union has so far confirmed that even the budget allocation, which was reduced to Ksh11 billion, has now been restored.
Subsequently, there were issues which were related to the promotion of teachers, something Misori reported that the portal of teachers’ promotions is now open and the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) is looking for funds to promote as many numbers of teachers who have stagnated in their jobs.
“We have also been assured that the teachers who are acting in positions of responsibility, without acting allowance, or special allowance, because of bottlenecks created by the salaries and remuneration commission will now be given the new consideration based on the outcome which has already begun with the commission,” Misori said.
The move comes days after the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) temporarily halted the nationwide teachers' strike until the matter was heard and determined.
The ruling followed a case submitted by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which the industrial court had slotted for mention on September 5, 2024.
The court's decision came as a win for students, whose learning was put in jeopardy for the Third Term, with candidates set to write their national examinations later in the term.
