By Roy Hezron
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Henry Oyuu has expressed satisfaction at what the current union leadership has achieved since they took office on June 26, 2021.
Oyuu said key among their key achievement is restoring a good relationship with the teachers’ employer, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Speaking at the union’s headquarters, KNUT House, in Nairobi on June 28, 2022 during the first anniversary commemoration, Oyuu said that they are currently enjoying a cordial working relationship with the employer.
As a result, pertinent issues that need both parties attention have been tabled and discussed openly and in a courteous atmosphere.
Oyuu stated that they are currently focusing on repealing the current 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to have a monetary component, which they had agreed to review after one financial year, by July 2023.
“The economy, which was reason for the SRC’s advisory, has now improved and we have already witnessed other sectors review salaries of their workers. We therefore feel teachers’ salaries should also be looked into and I am sure with this kind of relationship, we cannot come back here empty handed,” said Oyuu.
Oyuu recalled that even when they were going on with elections at Ruaraka Sports Club in Nairobi, auctioneers were at the union’s headquarters collecting the union items for unpaid debts.
He added that the union was engulfed in total absurdity, uncertainty and confusion.
“This was the driving force that pushed us to focus on how to revive our Union, structures and restructure our operations to ensure that we reclaim and restore our working relationship with stakeholders in the sector,” he said.
Oyuu said that they had realized that all along this time, God had kept us safe and in good health.
The new leadership has managed also to restore a cordial and warm relationship with the Ministry of Education by getting membership appointees in various Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Committees which are vital to formulate policies that manage and run the education sector in the country.
They have also reviewed the Recognition Agreement (RA) with TSC since the union was at the verge of losing it with the employer due to dwindling membership.
It has also concluded the 2016-2021 CBA for teachers who missed out Phase 3 and 4 of the CBA where almost all the 16,000 teachers have been served.
“We wish to urge any teacher who hasn’t been served to reach out to our officials out there for quick interventions,” said Oyuu.
The union, also carried out nationwide membership recruitment which commenced in January 13, 2022 with Oyuu noting that in Phase 1 of the exercise, they managed to get quite a number of members back
The union conducted Special Advisory Council Meeting in December 2021 and Special Delegates Conference in January 2022.
The union has also inducted KNUT leaders with Branch Executive Committees of KNUT Murang’a North, Nairobi, Siaya, Teso, Busia, Samburu, Nyando, Kisumu City and Kisumu East.
Oyuu further revealed that for the last one year they have related well with local unions and associations in the sector notably Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), Kenya Primary School Heads Associations (KEPSHA) and Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) which have created a platform to address teachers in both KEPSHA and KESSHA conferences.
