Wilson Sossion, the immediate former Knut secretary general, resigned, and Collins Oyuu was elected to lead the huge teachers’ union, which drew mixed emotions.
A distraught Sossion confessed that the employer made instructors suffer as a direct result of his presence in the union leadership. His resignation provided members a ray of optimism in the forthcoming new leadership as he revealed the reason why instructors had suffered.
TSC met with the new leadership, along with other teachers’ unions, and offered to expand maternity and paternal leave days from 90 to 120 and from 14 to 21 days, respectively, in a move that appears to support Sossion’s confession.
It also hinted at considering transferring teachers who are couples to neighbouring schools subject to availability of vacancies. A move aimed at strengthening family bonding. It, however, failed to offer monetary remuneration citing hard economic situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, an offer the unions wanted to hear more about.
Going by the first meeting with the new leaders and TSC’s offer of non-monetary remuneration alone, there is hope that the government has teachers’ interest at heart. However, TSC has a lot to do to make teachers feel appreciated and dignified.
First, since it is a constitutional right of employees to be in a union, TSC and Knut should work on a framework to have more teachers in the union. Those who may have been removed from union membership without their consent or through duress, should be reinstated.
TSC should also put the proposed maternity and paternity leave into effect as soon as possible.
TSC should move as soon as possible to effectuate the proposed transfer of couples to neighboring schools. Four, TSC should make a suitable counter-monetary remuneration offer to prevent disrupting learning.
In the spirit of fresh beginnings, the TSC and the unions can put a stop to the supremacy struggle and reach an amicable resolution for the benefit of all parties involved.
TSC should pay any unpaid union dues, as the former SG claimed. Teachers may be able to comprehend who failed them before between the company and their union if they accomplish this and many other significant acts.
That is why, in their discussions, TSC and the unions must consider the interests of teachers. They should also think about how their decisions would affect students and the academic calendar.
Fair labor relations will prevent anything that disrupts the school calendar, demoralizes instructors, and, as a result, causes students to suffer.
Both parties must make every effort to retain children in class given that there is so much to recoup from Covid-19’s loss.
