Setback for KNUT as High Court declines to okay teachers strike

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) on Wednesday suffered a setback after the Employment and Labour Relations Court  declined to allow teachers go ahead with a strike that was to begin on Wednesday.

KNUT and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had moved to court on Wednesday seeking a ruling on whether or not the strike was illegal.

In his ruling, Justice Bryan Ongaya directed teachers to resume work on Wednesday as conciliation talks continue between the union officials and TSC.

At the same time, TSC was barred from effecting teacher transfers pending a ruling on the matter on February 15, 2019.

The case will be mentioned on January 17 when the parties are expected to report to court on the progress of the conciliation talks, which the court ordered begin on Wednesday.

KNUT had sent out a circular to all its branches directing that no teacher should report for the new school term until the strike is called off formally by the union’s leadership.

The union’s Secretary-General Wilson Sossion emphasised 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.

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