The Teachers Service Commission has made a major move by not deducting the union dues from the members’ payslip of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) this month. This is a major indication by the Commission that it is unhappy with the current strike by secondary school teachers which they have refused to call off despite their demands being partly met.
Branch officials of KUPPET said the lack of deduction for union dues from teachers’ payslips in August was a sure signal by TSC on its stand about the strike action. This is when the second phase of the 2021-2025 CBA, with a salary increment that was backdated to last July, was reflected in the August payslip of the teachers.
The strike had, however, persisted despite a temporary suspension order given by the Employment and Labour Relations Court on August 27, stemming from an urgent application by TSC. This is because Kuppet remained defiant while the Kenya National Union of Teachers entered a truce, agreeing to the government’s request for more time.