The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has taken a notable step in response to the ongoing strike by omitting union dues from the payslips of KUPPET members. This move reflects the commission’s strong disapproval of the strike, which has continued despite partial fulfillment of the teachers’ demands and calls to end the industrial action.
Several KUPPET branch officials have confirmed to Chipuko Digital that the August payslips for teachers were issued without the usual deductions for union dues.
This omission is seen as a punitive measure by the TSC, likely aimed at pressuring the union and its members to comply with the court order and return to work.
The decision to withhold union dues could have financial implications for KUPPET and could intensify the ongoing dispute between the union and the TSC.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has agreed to implement the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), with the salary increments being applied retroactively from July 2024. These increments have already been reflected in the August payslips for teachers.
Despite this move and a temporary suspension order issued by the Employment and Labour Relations Court on Tuesday, August 27, following an urgent application from the TSC, the strike has persisted.
KUPPET has continued with the industrial action, even though the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) called off their strike just a day before the court order was issued.
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This ongoing strike, despite the court’s intervention and the partial fulfillment of the teachers’ demands, highlights the deep-seated tensions between the teachers’ unions and the TSC.
The situation remains contentious, with the TSC’s implementation of the CBA and the union’s defiance of the court order creating a complex standoff.
