Teachers strike still on as court postpones crucial ruling

Teachers have ruled out any possibility of returning to work until Thursday when a case filed by their employer the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is heard and determined.

The case which was set to be heard at the Employment and Labour Relations Court on Monday was postponed to Thursday after the presiding Judge Joram Abuodha fell ill.

In the petition, TSC sought to oppose the 50 to 60 per cent increment awarded to teachers by the same court in June this year, dating back to July 2013.

In a press briefing on Monday, the teachers unions, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), have instructed teachers not to report to work pending the hearing of the petition.

Earlier, the unions were held up in separate consultative meetings to discuss the way forward in handling the strike which entered its fifth week on Monday.

On Monday, teachers in various parts of the country made true their resilience to stay put despite government directive calling on them to report to work.

A spot check by Citizen TV revealed that most schools in Nairobi remained closed despite the government releasing new dates for opening schools set to start on September 28th.

In its ruling on Friday, the Employment and Labour Relations Court had called on teachers to suspend the strike and allow for dialogue between KNUT, Kuppet and TSC.

Judge Abuodha had ordered TSC and the Labour Cabinet Secretary to appoint an independent conciliator in 30 days to resolve the teachers’ salary increment dispute within 90 days.

The Court further warned the TSC against victimising the teachers who have been taking part in strike saying their salaries should be paid in full.

Several leaders including Deputy President William Ruto had called on teachers to put the interests of students first and return to work.

His call was brushed off by KNUT and Kuppet who have reiterated that they will not soften their stand until salary increment is effected.

In a bid to channel the way forward, KNUT and Kuppet had separate consultative meetings to discuss the way forward regarding the on-going strike which entered its fifth week Monday.

The strike has paralysed learning in private schools from August 31st, 2015 when schools were supposed to open for the third term.