Newly appointed Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua on Tuesday held a meeting with officials from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) in effort to avert the looming teachers' strike.
In a statement, the CS revealed that he had met leaders from the Union among them Secretary General Collins Oyuu and National Chairman Patrick Munuhe.
The goal of the meeting was to address growing concerns that could potentially lead to a nationwide teachers’ strike.
Among the key issues raised are were the expected pay rise of teachers up to 9 per cent as per the 2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
"Today, I met with the National Steering Council of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), led by Secretary General Collins Oyuu and National Chairman Patrick Munuhe, to address growing concerns that could potentially lead to a nationwide teachers’ strike," announced Mutua.
"The union raised several key issues, including the delay in implementing the second phase of the 2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which promised a salary increment of 7% to 9%, as well as concerns about the teachers’ medical scheme, non-remittance of SACCO and loan deductions, and delays in retirement benefit payments."
Mutua, however, did not confirm if any agreements were reached during the meeting.
Over the last two weeks, the two main teachers unions, KNUT and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), issued a 7-day strike notice should the demands fail to be met by the time schools reopen.
“KNUT and KUPPET have today joined forces to demand the immediate resolution of the following six issues causing unrest among our members,” Oyuu announced last week.
Other demands that took center stage were the confirmation of junior secondary school teachers.
They further decried neglect by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) which teachers accused of failing to meet their end of the CBA bargain.
It is still unclear whether the strike will proceed as plan or has been averted by the talks.
