The ongoing salary negotiations between the Teachers Service Commission, TSC, and Kenya Union Of Post Primary Education Teachers Union (KUPPET) have stalled.
After three days of offers and counter-offers, they failed to come to terms as KUPPET insisted on a 70 % increase for its members.
The TSC said that KUPPET’s demands were “unrealistic” at the moment especially now that the commission is experiencing financial hitches.
According to The Standard Newspaper, KUPPET officials and TSC members are however confident that they will eventually reach an agreement.
The union had demanded for a 70% salary increment for the lowest-paid teachers and a 30% increase for headteachers.
The state, unfortunately, failed to offer an exact figure that the union would find acceptable.
In a joint press conference release by the TSC Chief Executive Officer Dr Nancy Macharia, a meeting to address the issues tabled before the commission regarding the 2021-2025 CBA will be held today.
According to Dr Macharia, the Government had already implemented three out of the four phases using sh 54 billion set aside for the process.
STABILITY
The implementation of the CBA has led to industrial stability in the teaching sector.
Dr Macharia further noted that that the next negotiations will consider the current cost of living, government fiscal policies, teacher performance and production.
The two parties also agreed that there is a need to fast-track the release of promotion letters to all teachers who have been promoted.
The commission will also consider the career progression path for diploma teachers.
The retreat between the Teachers Service Commission and KUPPET was meant to review the current CBA and set the base for the next phase.
KUPPET Secretary-General Mr Akelo Misori said the union was looking forward to fresh negotiations.
He further added that they had a fruitful discussion.
