KNUT Issues A 14-Day Ultimate Over Teachers Salary Review

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Teacher Service Commission, TSC, to review the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2021.

According to KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu, teachers were facing a severe financial crisis due to the high cost of living. He noted that the current salaries are not commensurate with the work that teachers do.

The SG, therefore, called for a salary increase for all teachers as well as a review of other benefits such as housing allowances and medical cover.

“The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) stopped us from negotiating anything monetary in 2021. But since SRC has lifted the caveat on negotiation, we have written to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to bring us to the table so that we may review our current salaries,” Oyuu stated.

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Oyuu added that we must not forget that the economic situation is so biting that we have to sit again so that there is something on the table for the teachers. KNUT members were affected by the current state of the economy, especially the skyrocketing inflation rate hit 8.0 percent.

“We must review the non-monetary Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) which we signed in 2021. We cannot forget that the economic situation in this country is so biting,” he demanded.

Teachers should be cushioned based on a non-monetary CBA that reflects current financial demands so as to help them cope with the rising cost of living he said.

The demand for a salary review came when the government was facing financial constraints. However, Oyuu noted that the government should prioritize the welfare of teachers as they are the backbone of the education system.

A 14-day deadline for TSC to convene talks expires on July 25. If TSC does not respond by then, KNUT stated that it will take further action including industrial action.

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TSC had not yet responded to KNUT’s demands. However, the commission on Thursday, July 6, stated that it was committed to ensuring that teachers are properly remunerated.

“Earlier, TSC came up with a proposal of Sh2 billion for teachers’ allowances, which is welcome, although the National Treasury reduced it to Sh1 billion. We still want our TSC to sit with us and reopen the way for negotiations,” Oyuu said.

The KNUT secretary General said a well-paid teacher is an effective teacher. “A poorly paid teacher cannot perform. If the government wants performance, we will reopen the negotiations of the salary component that we missed in 2021,” he said.

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