Court halts teachers strike, orders KNUT to negotiate with TSC

The Employment and Labour Relations Court has issued orders barring the strike by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) set to begin on Thursday, January 3, 2019.

The court agreed to grant orders sought by the Teachers Service commission (TSC) that the strike be stopped until hearing of the matter on Wednesday, January 2.

The teachers union has however declared that the strike will go on as planned should TSC fail to heed to their demands.

KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion insists that the industrial action can only be stopped by resolution of four key issues; promotion of teachers, contentious transfers of head teachers and performance contracting policy by TSC.

The teachers union is also opposed to the Teachers professional development modules partly managed via an online portal to appraise teachers regularly.

The court directed that the two parties continue to negotiate and consult on the issues, with KNUT now required to supply TSC with a list of teachers that they claim have not been promoted in accordance with terms of employment.

TSC was also directed to decide on applications by teachers who have sought review of their transfers. While assessing such requests, TSC is bound not to victimize any teacher who seeks transfer review.

As the court issued TSC with the favourable orders, TSC officials were holed up in a meeting with KNUT and a conciliatory team appointed by the labour ministry.