TSC finalizes CBA for Teachers’ New Salaries 2021-2025
The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) has finally agreed and signed the new 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with teachers’ unions. The new CBA was signed on July 13th, 2021. Read details on the new CBA below.
In the new non-monetary CBA, female teachers will now ‘enjoy’ an enhanced maternity leave of 120 days; up from the current 90 days.
On their part, male teachers will now proceed on a 21 days’ paternity leave; up from the current 14 days.
The Commission has at the same time offered a preadoptive leave for teachers adopting kids plus a promise to fast track promotions of teachers in arid and semi-arid areas.
This means that teachers will continue earning their current salaries as the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has freezed salary increment for teachers and other public servants; for a period of two years.
SIGNING OF THE 2021-2025 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS WITH TEACHER UNIONS
On June 29, 2021, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) met with officials of all the three recognized trade unions representing teachers in the public sector to kick-start negotiations for the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The three unions are: The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET).
At the first meeting held here at the Safari Park hotel, TSC tabled its offer on the CBA. Although the unions’ proposals included financial components, the Commission besieged the parties to factor in the advice of the Salaries Remuneration Commission (SRC) that directed a freeze in salary reviews in the public sector for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial years.
The Commission also considered the current economic situation obtaining in the country and the persistent COVID-19 pandemic, which has immensely affected the world of work.
During the negotiations, the teachers’ unions did not agree with the fact that remunerative components would remain as currently obtaining in the teaching service.
Keen to ensure industrial harmony within the sector, the TSC invited the unions to a second meeting on July 13th, 2021 to scale up the negotiations and agree on a new CBA that will succeed the 2017-2021 CBA which expired on June 30th, 2021.
After frank, sincere and open discussions the TSC and teachers’ unions reached an agreement. The Commission, therefore, on 13th July, 2021, signed a new CBA with the three recognized teacher unions to cover the period 2021-2025.
The TSC thanked the unions for embracing dialogue and professionalism in the spirited fight for the rights of their members, who are indeed TSC employees.
TSC, also appreciated both parties for taking into account the current economic situation in the country and the effects of the persistent Covid-19 pandemic.
The TSC thanked all the three unions for hitting yet another milestone in the teaching service. The unions demonstrated restraint, commitment and sacrifice during negotiations, especially in the middle of very harsh economic times in the country.
The Commission thanked all teachers for being committed to serve, toil and shine for the betterment of our children’s education.
TSC assured teachers that it shall work round the clock to continuously improve your terms and conditions of service in the best way Possible.
The TSC vowed to continue providing a conducive environment for all the 330,671 teachers to effectively discahrge and excel in their duties.
As part of the Commission’s efforts to recognize exemplary teachers, the Commission has rolled out an exercise to capture data of all those staff who excel in various spheres of work with a view to rewarding them accordingly as would be decided from time to time.
These areas would include excellence in national examinations, sport, theater, institutional management, innovation, research, and advocacy, among others.
