The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has unleashed another blow on the teachers' unions, that could see the unending battle between the two parties continue for a while longer.
The teachers employer is reportedly seeking to restrict school heads, their deputies and heads of departments from joining unions, citing that they were in management and should not be partisan to any union.
The proposal was tabled by TSC's CEO, Nancy Macharia during a consultative meeting referring to the recognition agreements signed with KNUT in 1968 and with KUPPET in 2010 which supported the fact that as managers, senior teachers ought not to be unionized.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) however, criticised TSC stating that their action was against the international labour laws.
“The recognition agreement does not deter one from joining unions. It simply states how the unions and the employer shall relate and states the roles of head teachers and their deputies in taking care of school property in the event of industrial action,” KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion was quoted by the Standard.
“The Constitution and the Labour Relations Act are clear that teachers have a right to join any union and that the employer cannot hoodwink members to join or not to join a union,” KUPPET Secretary General, Akelo Misori also stated.
The move by TSC would see the unions lose over 100,000 members who contribute significanty to their remittances.
Last week, Sossion sharply condemned a circular issued by TSC that sought to allow members to confirm their membership to the different unions. He said that the move was illegal and confirmed their worst fears.
