TSC has 7 days from Knut and Kuppet to implement the sh 13.5 billion CBA payrise.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) held a joint news conference in Nairobi on Wednesday, August 7, following a meeting where they threatened to go on strike but were unable to come to an agreement with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The two teachers unions handed TSC an ultimatum in a unit of purpose to address several issues, the main one being the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for 2021–2025.
The unions have threatened TSC with strike action unless it pays the second part of the CBA benefits in August salary.
In a united letter to the Commission, the unions have listed a number of additional requests that must be fulfilled within seven days, failing which they would begin the process of a nationwide walkout on August 26, the day classes resume for the third term.
Preparations for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will be derailed by a strike during the last term of the school year.
Julius Migos Ogamba, who is anticipated to take over as Cabinet Secretary for Education when the National Assembly approves his candidacy, will be met with a frosty reception.
They also seek the promotion of 130,000 teachers, the hiring of 20,000 more people, and the conversion of internship instructors into permanent positions.
Additionally, the unions demand that TSC reimburse companies that offer health insurance to teachers and agree to engage in talks for a new CBA when the existing one expires in a year.
Collins Oyuu, the Knut Secretary-General, stated, “We demand that the TSC fulfill its legal obligations and promptly remit the teachers’ emoluments for July 2024, including basic salaries and allowances, as provided under the CBAs.”
They are “non-negotiable,” according to his Kuppet counterpart Akelo Misori, because the agreements were filed with the Employment and Labour Relations Court last year.
The second and last phase of the agreement, which was struck in August of last year to protect teachers from the rising cost of living, requires the TSC to pay teachers Sh13.5 billion. Nevertheless, their July wages did not take the raise into account.
The cooperative strategy is a far cry from previous situations in which the unions handled issues impacting their members independently.
While Kuppet’s membership is primarily drawn from secondary schools and other post-primary institutions, Knut’s membership is primarily drawn from primary school teachers.
Mr. Oyuu informed the Nation union officials on Tuesday that they would be meeting with the TSC yesterday. Nevertheless, the meeting never happened. According to him, the commission claimed they would hold a meeting only after conducting “higher-level consultations,” rejecting the request for one.
Regarding the advancement of educators who had worked in the same job groups for an extended period of time, Mr. Oyuu stated that these educators were interviewed and shortlisted for new grade levels in 2023, but were not appointed since funding for their advancements was not available.
He claimed that the TSC was deducting pay from the National Social Security Fund without sending the money back to the fund.
The unions have suggested that the new CBA provide post-graduate allowance, risk allowance for science teachers, per diems for gaming teachers, special duty payments for teachers who are not significantly appointed, and acting allowances for teachers.
TSC has 7 days from Knut and Kuppet to implement the sh 13.5 billion CBA payrise.
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