Secondary school tutors will wait a little longer to know the fate of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) asked for more time to consult other state entities.
TSC commissioners and officials of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) met in Nairobi on Wednesday but said they had not finalised consultations to consider the demands for improved salaries made by the union. The commission promised an answer by July 20.
“The mood was cordial but there isn’t a deal yet. We don’t want to go back home with a cashless CBA. The TSC asked for more time for consultations,” Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori told the Nation .
Kuppet Chairman Omboko Milemba said the union would insist on a pay deal and asked the National Treasury and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to consider its requests.
“We stood our ground but are being strategic. We cannot afford to lose this opportunity and can wait until July 20 as promised,” said Mr Milemba, the Emuhaya MP.
On Tuesday, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) said a meeting with the TSC did not yield any offer for its members.
Knut officials address journalists at the Union’s headquarters in Nairobi on August 25, 2024 .
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
The union leadership later addressed journalists, maintaining that teachers are not ready for an agreement that does not address bread and butter issues.
“We will not accept a non-monetary CBA. Teachers have borne the brunt of inequality in terms of remuneration for nearly six years. We signed a non-monetary CBA in 2021, citing the challenges brought by Covid-19. The pandemic is long gone, yet the teachers are still at the centre of inequality,” Mr Misori said.
He added that Kuppet submitted demands to the commission on August 30, 2024, including a comprehensive salary increment, acting allowances for teachers with extra responsibilities and harmonising career progression guidelines.
“Our expectations are high. We had a productive meeting, which the TSC suggested a follow-up. For the conclusion of the CBA, we agreed to meet on or before July 20,” Mr Misori said.
“That meeting is expected to review the matters Kuppet presented, especially for the new teachers and those holding acting positions. These are the people whose issues must be addressed if we are to sign anything. We expect to hear the extent to which the commission has addressed our demands.”
Knut issued a seven-day ultimatum to the TSC to present a counter-offer for its demands for the 2025-29 CBA, following the Tuesday meeting that collapsed. Knut officials accused the teachers’ employer of inviting them for talks when the commission was not prepared and with no proposals on the table.
The union also accused the TSC of not presenting a counter-offer and frustrating the negotiations, warning that it would not accept anything less than what its members have demanded.
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary-General Akelo Misori with other union officials at a past press conference.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada| Nation Media Group
However, rival Kuppet advised teachers to remain calm as negotiations progress. The union added that without a new and comprehensive pay agreement, teachers across the country could be exposed to financial vulnerability, poor working conditions and continued stagnation in job groups and careers.
“Kuppet asks for calm and patience as we await the conclusion of this process. Time is running out. Teachers are supposed to start enjoying the benefits after July 30,” Mr Misori said. “We are created to negotiate and not for stand-offs. If, however, this does not happen, then even the media know the consequences.”
Mr Misori and Mr Omboko added that failure to address long-standing issues such as salary disparities, acting allowances and job progression would leave Kuppet members in a precarious position, undermining their morale and performance in the classroom.
“More than 99,000 teachers have stagnated in their job groups. This is unacceptable. These teachers have served diligently, yet their career growth has been ignored for many years. It is one of the key issues we expect the CBA to address urgently,” Mr Milemba said.
