The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, KUPPET, is up in arms over the TSC’s termination of services for about 700 JSS intern teachers. This move has clearly agitated the union members, who termed the action as a breach of the earlier agreed-upon deal.
Background of the Dispute
In a memo dated June 12, 2024, and signed by KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima, the union expressed deep regrets and concerns about the actions of the TSC. The letter, addressed to all union branch executive secretaries, mapped out how the decision by TSC to sack the teachers was contrary to the letter and spirit of the Return-to-Work Formula agreed between KUPPET and TSC. It is in this very formula that important agreements were contained, which allowed the JSS teachers to go back to work after a reasonably long period of legitimate labor action.
Key Agreements in the Return-to-Work Formula
The RTWF outlined several critical points:
- Resumption of Work: All teachers were to resume their duties by June 3, 2024.
- Protection from Punishment: No teacher was to be punished for participating in the previous labor action.
- Withdrawal of Disciplinary Actions: All show-cause letters and notices to exit issued to teachers were to be withdrawn for those who resumed their duties.
KUPPET and TSC had also agreed that the teachers who reported back to work either at their respective schools or in designated retooling centers since June 3 would not be punished “regardless of whether they responded to show-cause letters.
KUPPET’s Response and Actions
A recent instruction by Nthurima was for branch executive secretaries to collect and submit the information on any JSS teacher who may have been dismissed after adhering to the _GTWF. Evidence collected on resumption of work by June 3 should be submitted along with by June 14, 2024 to support the efforts by KUPPET in addressing such a case.
TSC’s Justification for Dismissals
The TSC started issuing termination letters to JSS intern teachers shortly after it announced a suspension of demonstrations. The Commission wrote this down as professional misconduct basing on earlier show cause letters. Letters from the TSC further read that the teachers’ response to the letters were considered unsatisfactory, and that is why their internship contracts were terminated.
Union’s Stance
KUPPET condemned the actions, saying the decision by TSC undermined the agreements reached and also unfairly punishes teachers who had acted in good faith and actually reported back to their stations. The union is also mobilizing its branches to collect comprehensive details about the affected teachers to challenge dismissals, seeking reinstatements for those who complied with the RTWF.