What you need to Note:
- For the case to succeed, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) wants the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to quickly start negotiations for the 2021-2023 CBA.
- The Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) for the first time has granted its proposals to the commission, demanding for a 50 to 60 per cent basic salary increment.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has asked the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to rise teachers salary to up to 200 per cent to cushion its affiliates from inflation and Coronavirus effects.
In a transit expected to jolt the Commission, Knut SG Wilson Sossion noted that in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the lowest pay rise for its members should not be less than 120 per cent.
This is in consideration that the government had agreed to grant teachers between 50-60 per cent pay increment back in 2017.
Mr Sossion wants an annual basic salary increment of 5.0 per cent, house allowance increment of 50 per cent and accommodation and night allowance 50 per cent increase in the minimum basic salary.
Further, the KNUT Secretary General Honorable Wilson Sossion wants risk allowance by 10 per cent, commuter allowance increased by 50 per cent, and hardship by 10 per cent.
For the case to succeed, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) wants the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to quickly start negotiations for the 2021-2023 CBA.
2017 to 2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in October 2016 is programmed to end on 30th June 2021. The Teachers Union is requesting for a thorough job evaluation for Classroom teachers to warrant satisfactory compensation. Mr Sossion insists that job evaluation was improperly done before the 2017-2021 deal.
Classroom Teachers Have Been Ignored For Long
The KNUT Lawmaker argues that the current CBA only favours school administrators leaving classroom teachers with so little. Sossion has condemned the Teachers Service Commission of breaching the law by revealing and sending part of CBA proposals by KNUT and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) to Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) even before the conclusion of the negotiations.
“The current CBA only favours teachers in administrative positions, leaving the classroom tutor with little increment over the last four years,”- Mr Sossion
The lawmaker claims that before CBA proposals are given to the SRC, unions need to be involved, table their proposals and discuss them. On 15th of October, the KNUT Secretary-General asked SRC to ignore the proposals citing that the wrong channel was followed.
"The commission should only present the details of discussions and their proposals after we have had our discussions,” said Mr Sossion.
Sossion noted that in the non-existence of any meeting between the consultative committee and the parties, the law would not support any step taken by the commission if Section 13(5) of the TSC Act is to be followed. The TSC Act compels the TSC to set a consultative committee on the terms and conditions of service of teachers.
“Despite several requests, the commission has failed to constitute the committee against the requirement of the law and International Conventions Rule 143(m),” said Mr Sossion.
Special allowance for Kusnet.
The Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) for the very first time granted its recommendations to TSC, bidding for a 50 to 60 per cent basic salary increment. Kusnet secretary-general James Torome is directing for a monthly special allowance of Ksh15, 000 and Ksh30,000 a guidance allowance.
“All special need education teachers shall be paid a uniform allowance of Sh15, 000 per year,” Kusnet Secretary-General James Torome.
Further, KUSNET, demands that Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) be provided under the code of regulations for teachers. The agreement requires the commission to ensures that every teacher employed by the commission is facilitated to undergo career progression,” said Mr Torome
KUPPET Ready For Negotiations
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education (KUPET) has expressed its willingness to engage with the Teachers Service Commission if called upon.
“As a union, we have not rejected any proposal from the TSC; we shall discuss and negotiate for a new deal for teachers when called upon,” Kuppet SG Akelo Misori.
The 2017-2021 CBA that involved a Ksh54 billion deal has created conflict between Knut and TSC leading to salary increment and promotion denial of KNUT teachers.
