KNUT Clarifies on The Impending Teacher Strike
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has denied reports that the nation’s educators are getting ready to strike in order to request a pay rise.
Collins Oyuu, secretary general of the KNUT, said that the organization’s goal is to promote a modification of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the years 2021–2025.
“No strike notice has been issued by me. I informed TSC to set up a meeting with KNUT to discuss the clause pertaining to the CBA review for 2021–2025, he clarified.
Following their 14-day notification to TSC, Oyuu declared that they had heard back favourably from the teachers’ employer.
He said, “We have got a written answer from the TSC, stating their resolve to call a meeting as soon as possible and deal with the urgent issues.
After addressing the Kisumu KNUT branch Annual General Meeting, Oyuu pledged teachers who are union members that they would make every attempt to address their issues during a news conference in Kisumu.
Oyuu clarified that since the 2021–2025 CBA they had signed with the TSC did not include a financial component, a review was required to include financial considerations.
KNUT Clarifies on The Impending Teacher Strike
“The CBA included a provision allowing the parties to evaluate the contract they had signed. Some professors made fun of us, saying we had a maternity CBA, he said.
The Salary and Remuneration Commission’s (SRC) two-year restriction had come to an end, the Secretary General emphasised, giving them the legal right to reconsider the contract they had previously signed.
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Oyuu said they will also take into account the CBA’s non-financial elements during the examination.
The KNUT has set requirements for salary review discussions and will ask for a pay rise to make up for the projected Housing Levy deductions.
Teachers would be spared the imminent 3% deductions thanks to this wage increase.
Oyuu earlier praised TSC for unveiling the strategic plan for 2023–2027, whose implementation will cost Ksh 70 billion.
Oyuu stated that KNUT was willing to communicate with the TSC to make sure that teacher compensation is covered in the strategic plan.
Stakeholders applauded TSC’s previous proposal of Ksh 2 billion for teacher advancements. The total was later decreased to Ksh 1 billion by the national treasury.
“We continue to urge the TSC to communicate with us and open the door to additional discussions. We were unable to discuss financial issues in 2021 because of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, but now that the ban has been lifted, we’ve contacted the TSC and given them 14 days to start talks and examine the non-financial CBA that was signed in 2021,” Oyuu said.
