Teachers, through Knut, now want the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to triple their salaries in the next two years, according to a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for 2021-2023.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), has asked the TSC to increase salaries of the lowest-paid teacher, which is currently 27,195 shillings to 65,268 shillings.
In a meeting with the TSC that was attended by Knut officials except for embattled Secretary General Wilson Sossion, it was reportedly agreed that they would re-establish a committee towards expediting work on the 2021-2023 CBA.
Under the 2017-2021 CBA, the lowest-paid teachers had their salary increment implemented in two phases while those in school administrative positions had theirs implemented in four phases.
Knut proposes that senior principals and principals earn 260,132 shillings and 230,000 shillings respectively, while secondary Teacher I and senior teacher I basic salary be increased to 129,462 shillings.
To add on that, Knut proposes that teachers handling technical and science subjects be given a risk allowance at the rate of ten percent of their basic salaries.
Knut also wants to leave allowances for teachers to be reviewed and be an equivalent of a one-month salary, which will be payable once per year.
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For hardship allowances, Knut wanted it increased from 38,100 shillings for principals and 6,600 for classroom teachers to between 32,634 shillings and 144,518 shillings.
It was also proposed that commuter allowance currently between 4,000 and 16,000 shillings be increased to between 6,000 and 24,000 shillings.
While Knut wanted the annual salary increment to be awarded effective July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2023, and house allowances adjusted by 50 percent, Kuppet proposed an increase of between 30 and 70 percent in 2021-2025 CBA.
It wants the salary of the lowest-paid teacher to be 36,985 shillings, with house allowances for teachers everywhere to range between 6,750 shillings and 45,000 shillings.
On that, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia said that the commission is working to see that teachers house allowances are harmonized and based on job group.
She also said that the agreement that TSC and Kuppet have a joint retreat to evaluate progress and gaps in the current CBA and laying ground for the next CBA still stands.