Teachers’ union have threatened to strike after union leaders rejected an offer
tabled by the Teachers Service Commission(TSC).
TSC had invited officials of the Kenya National Union of Teachers(Knut), the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers(Kuppet) and the Kenya Union of Special needs Education teachers(Kusnet) for talks on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement(CBA) for the next five years.
Speaking after a meeting at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, newly-elected Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu said the offer tabled by the teachers’ employer did not meet their expectations.
“The proposals were strong on maternity and paternity leave, but will this bring food on the table? We came out with nothing in terms of pay and I cannot be crucified by members with just two days in office,” he said.
Kusnet secretary general James Torome said they did not agree with the TSC as whatever was presented does not give teachers a salary increment.
“We are not opposed to the maternity, partanity and pre-adoptive offers, but we have asked the TSC to give us a serious counter offer,” he said.
This comes after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) suspended review of basic salary structures and allowances paid in the public sector.
According to SRC, this was to jumpstart the economy that has been ravaged by Covid-19.
SRC chairperson Lyn Mengich said the decision was arrived at following recommendations by the National Treasury, citing tough economic times and constraints to the budget occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Cognisant of the government’s financial constraints, the current wage bill ratios, the need to release resources for investment in the strategic priorities of the government to jumpstart the Covid-19-ravaged economy, there will be no review of the basic salary structures, allowances and benefits paid in the public sector in the financial year 2021/2022-2022/23,” she said.
In the proposal presented by TSC, the commission offered to grant female teachers maternity leave of 120 days up from the current 90 days with full salary with effect from the date of delivery.
Male teachers’ partanity leave has been increased from 14 days to 21 days.
On pre-adoptive leave, the commission offered to grant teachers leave for 45 days from the date of adoption.
Early this month, teachers threatened to down their tools if the employer fails to raise their salaries and offer them promotions.
Teachers, under KUPPET, issued a seven-day strike notice to the TSC.
According to Misori, the TSC had not negotiated a Collective Bargaining Agreement to replace the one that expires at the end of this month.
“Teachers expect nothing other than a salary review this year. We have gathered that TSC was advised by the Salaries Remuneration Commission (SRC), but TSC has not shared the advisory with us,” said Misori.