The Teachers Unions and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) have finally signed an agreement to increase teachers’ pay by between 7 percent to 10 percent.
The deal has been signed as a result of the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement, (CBA) that does not have a monetary aspect and stems from a recommendation by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to increase the salaries of all State employees.
The signing took place at the Kenya School of Government officiated by the union’s secretary general. The salary increase will be backdated to July 1st. The deal will see the house allowances for teachers working in rural areas and small towns reviewed.
On 28th August, TSC declared that after productive negotiations with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET), teachers will receive a salary increase starting from July 1, 2023.
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An additional agreement to the 2021/2025 CBA has also been ratified, aiming to cushion teachers from new legal deductions and the rising cost of living.
On Tuesday last week, TSC and the unions for primary and post-primary teachers, KNUT and KUPPET, convened to re-open talks on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) covering the period 2021 to 2023
However, the talks inadvertently shifted to the issue of the teachers’ pay about the Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s proposal for pay hikes for civil servants.
The three unions declined TSC’s proposal of a salary hike ranging from 2.4 percent to 9.5 percent, deeming it inadequate, maintaining that the increase fell short of the recommendation put forth by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
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The unions had been angling for the seven to 10 percent increase recommended by SRC for all civil servants. After a sequence of discussions, an agreement has been attained following prior discussions held on Friday, August 25, to resolve the stalemate.
“The Commission has concluded the promotion of 14,738 teachers in August 2023 and has advertised an additional 36,275 vacancies for promotions. The objective of these promotions is to motivate teachers as they advance in their career to improve productivity and performance,” a statement released by TSC read in part.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General, Collins Oyuu said matters of house allowance were a big issue during their talks.
“We wanted Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu to be set aside due to the inflation. We have secured 10% of the presidential offer. We always wanted a 60 percent increase in salaries across the board, he said.
Oyuu said they are coming for the next 50 percent, and that one won’t be taken for granted. The new pay will be effective immediately in the August salary and backdated to July.
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According to the signed CBA, Teachers serving at Teacher Grade C2 (the entry level for graduate teachers) will see their basic pay rise by up to Sh4,164, those at C3 will get Sh5,141 while the highest (DS) will earn an increase of Sh4,883.
The teachers in Teachers Training Colleges (TTC) will be prioritized in promotion vacancies, eliminating competition with secondary teachers for TTC vacancies. The teacher’s body will further unveil a comprehensive policy outline aimed at empowering and motivating college tutors.
“It is worth noting that 87% of the public teaching services are earning house allowance under the Cluster 4 category. These are teachers stationed mainly in rural areas. The new salary structure shall be implemented immediately in the August payroll and arrears backdated to 1st July 2023,” the statement read.
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