TSC EXCLUSIVE NEWS THIS WEEK: TSC AND KUPPET TO CONCLUDE SALARY TALKS (CBA BY 2020) AS KNUT’S POSITION REMAINS UNCLEAR
TSC TO GIVE A COUNTER OFFER TO KUPPET’S SALARY PROPOSALS FOR THE NEXT CBA
The Teachers Service Commission is currently going through teachers’ salary proposals presented by the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers with the aim of giving a counter-offer.
EXTERNAL LINKS WITH RELATED CONTENT
According to the TSC Boss Dr Nancy Macharia, this move will ensure that all salary increase negotiations as presented in the next CBA are concluded by 2020.
This, therefore, means that teachers will be able to know their salary increment by the end of 2020.
The Teachers Service Commission has however not given any feedback regarding the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) new CBA.
According to Dr Nancy Macharia, the Commission is willing to engage with unions as per the legal provisions that regulate the relationship between the TSC and teacher unions. She further added that “the Commission shall engage with social partners who have met the legal threshold for such engagement.”
KUPPET has so far made a milestone in as far as the teachers’ salary talks are concerned given that the TSC recently invited the union for a retreat to discuss the implementation of the next CBA.
In the new 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, KUPPET proposes a 30 to70 per cent salary increase for teachers.
BELOW IS A RECAP ON WHAT WAS DISCUSSED DURING THE 2019 TSC AND KUPPET RETREAT
The Teachers Service Commission, TSC and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers Union, KUPPET held rigorous discussions this week regarding the implementation of the new 2021-2025 CBA for teachers.
This took place during the joint retreat between TSC and KUPPET at Salewa Lodges, Naivasha between 29th October to 1st November 2019.
Below is a presser signed by both TSC Boss Dr Nancy Macharia and Mr Akello Misori, KUPPET Secretary-General:
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT FOR 2021-2025
TSC and KUPPET agreed that some of the factors that should be put into consideration in negotiating the next CBA.
These include:
1. The cost of living adjustments
2. Affordability
3. Sustainability
4. Comparability
5. Government fiscal policies and guidelines
6. Teacher performance and productivity
7. The implication of the new Competency-Based Curriculum, CBC, and its impact on the job of the teacher.
The two parties also agreed on a comprehensive framework for 2021-2025 CBA negotiations and the procedures that should be followed.
OTHER ISSUES
TSC and KUPPET also discussed other issues such as:
1. The need for TSC to fast-track the issuance of promotion letters to all teachers who were promoted since 1st July, 2017.
2. TSC to consider career progression for Diploma teachers
3. TSC to consider career progression for special needs education teachers
4. Sensitization of teachers on the legal instruments governing their employment especially career progression guidelines so that they can take advantage of promotional adverts for career development.
STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CURRENT CBA 2017-2021
The Teachers Service Commission has already implemented the third phase of the CBA 2017-2021 for KUPPET members.
The parties appreciated the fact that Career Progression Guidelines, Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development have greatly impacted positively on the teaching sector in Kenya since they have led to professionalism.
Professionalization of the teaching sector has also greatly improved the image of the teaching service as the profession of choice in the public service.
Both parties took note of the need to compress the wage difference between school administrators and classroom teachers.
They thus underscored the need for continued fairness and equity in wage distribution in the teaching service. They agreed that the issue will be addressed during the next 2021-2025 CBA negotiations.
