KNUT, KUPPET In Talks With TSC For Teachers Salary Increment

By Getrude Mathayo / Published May 22, 2023 | 1:12 pm

Teachers Unions, KNUT, and KUPPET have held initial talks with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in their push for a review of the 2021-2025 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to allow for an increase in salaries.

Two leading teachers’ unions-the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET)-have already separately met with TSC to begin talks. The two unions met TSC bosses in Nakuru last week in initial talks where, according to officials, they tabled their proposals.

While Knut is pushing for a 60 percent pay rise, KUPPET is demanding a 42 percent increase. The CBA signed between the two unions and TSC in 2021 did not have a monetary component as the country still was recovering from the global economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Knut Secretary-General Collins Oyuu and KUPPET National Deputy Treasurer Ronald Tonui said teachers are facing tough economic times as the employer had failed to increase their salaries in the past seven years.

They argued that the employer had failed to increase their salaries in the past seven years despite the raging inflation and high cost of living.

“We sat as the Knut National Steering Council and agreed to push for a 60 percent salary increase for teachers,” said Mr. Oyuu, who was flanked by officials from 32 branches countrywide during the Bomet Knut branch annual general meeting (AGM) at Fair Hills Hotel.

Mr. Oyuu said the 2021-25 CBA was not cast in stone and was open to review by both parties. He spoke in Bomet County on Sunday after a meeting with 32 branches countrywide during the Bomet Knut branch’s annual general meeting.

“We have commenced discussions with the TSC on the review of the 2021-2025 CBA, which was non-monetary, and we are confident that we will reach an agreement that is workable for all parties,” Mr. Oyuu said.

Under his leadership, he said, Knut would not encourage strikes to press for salary increases as had happened in the past.

“What teachers need is to be treated with dignity, to have their issues addressed by the employer and stakeholders. As a union, we cannot ask teachers to demonstrate on the streets when their issues can be dealt with diplomatically and amicably by the employer and the unions,” said Oyuu.