Kuppet tells teachers to resume work

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has told teachers to report to their various schools tomorrow without fail.

“We are law abiding citizens and we have officially acknowledged the ruling of the Industrial Court. The court will exercise equity and justice and it will give a fair ruling for teachers to get a better pay,” said secretary general Akello Misori.

Speaking in Nairobi during a Kuppet National Governing Council meeting yesterday, Misori also appealed for withdrawal of cases against teachers arrested and taken to court during the strike.

Set free

“Form One selection can commence on Tuesday as scheduled and, therefore, we believe teachers who were arrested will be set free since the strike was legal,” he added.

Kuppet chairman Omboko Milemba said most teachers in Bungoma, Vihiga and Laikipia were arrested but they were out of court since they were released on bond.

“We have submitted to the Industrial Court ruling and want our teachers set free, too,” Milemba said.

On Wednesday, the court issued a directive to teachers to resume lessons and asked Kuppet and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) to file the dispute before it.

The court asked the unions to file their cases by tomorrow, January 19, and asked the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to respond to the dispute by January 26. The eight-day strike that paralysed learning in public schools ended after the Industrial Court took over the pay negotiations and ordered teachers to return to class from this week.

The pay dispute being arbitrated by Judge Mathews Nduma Nderi reached the compromise after the Government and unions failed to break the deadlock that arose when the State rejected an increment on basic salary, and instead offered Sh9.3 billion in allowances, which the unions spurned.