Teachers unions in the country have signed the 2021-2025 collective bargaining agreement (CBA), two weeks after the 2017-2021 CBA expired.
However, the 2021-2025 CBA does not address the issue of salary increments for teachers. Unions had rejected a proposal from the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) in June, saying it had not addressed financial gains for teachers.
The process was not easy. For the better part of the day, there was a back and forth between the teachers and the employer, as teachers tried to ensure the contentious issue of the salary increment had been addressed but all was in vain.
“We’ve come out of this day, having signed a CBA with teacher Service Commission. It is true, as has been said by my colleagues, that the highly awaited monetary gains were not incorporated in this CBA. Allow me to say and take note of the fact that the collective bargaining agreement is not an event.” Said KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu.
“This is a process. I wish to tell our teachers members of the Kenya National Union of teachers (KNUT), that hope is still there. We have room to sit with teachers Service Commission time and again, in our review process of this said.” He concluded.
“Consequently, as we append our signature, we know that the Commission is ready and according to the agreement will be asking us to come again to review the contents of the negotiated document that we have appended.” Said the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers.
TSC said that although the union’s proposals included financial components, it beseeched the parties to factor in the advice of the Salaries Remuneration Commission (SRC) that directed a freeze in salary reviews in the public sector for 2021 2022 and 2022 and 2023 financial years.
“The Commission also consider the current economic situation obtaining in the country and the covid 19 pandemic, which has immensely affected the world of work.” Said TSC Chief executive Officer Nancy Macharia.
The new Kenya National Union of Teachers SG Collins Oyuuso assured teachers that he will stop at nothing to ensure their grievances over salaries are addressed.
Perhaps this could be seen as his first major test as he begins to steer the ship that had similarly been caught up in waves that threatened its safety.
“Room to fight for your basic salaries is there. It is true. Apart from the monetary gains that are not perceived to be there. We have quantified quite a number of gains with the Teachers Service Commission in the signed CBA.” Said Oyuu.
“We thank them also for finally agreeing to sign what we offered because this is the world we are living in. And that’s what we have for now. However, as we have stayed we keep our doors open. And if things improve, we will always be there because we also care about the welfare of our teachers.” Macharia said.
The new CBA succeeds the 2017-2021 CBA that expired on the 30th of June 2021. On 29th June teachers unions, KNUT and KUPPET rejected a proposal from the Teachers Service Commission on the 2021-2025 collective bargaining agreement, as it lacked an important component, salary increment for teachers.
On the other hand, TSC defended itself saying the proposals they had brought to the table was as a result of advice from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
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