The Kenya national union of teachers, KNUT, has given a detailed account of the meeting it held with TSC last week.

One of the demands tabled by KNUT during the meeting was that the Teachers Service Commission must review the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to effect a 60 per cent salary increase for the 300,000 teachers.

Should this demand be approved, the lowest paid teacher at Job Group B1 could get a salary increment of ksh.14,550, pushing their salary to Sh38,800 from ksh. 24,250 while the highest paid teachers, who fall under Job Group D5 will get a raise of about Sh89,016, pushing their salary to Sh237, 376 up from the present Sh148,360.

Knut also wants the government to cater for teachers’ refresher training courses to cushion them from the elevated cost of living.

According to KNUT, the Members of the national assembly must approve a ksh4.5billion to foot the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) if TSC wants teachers to be retrained.

Further, KNUT wants a review of promotion criteria to benefit tutors who have obtained higher qualifications.

“Our position as Knut was and continues to be that promotion policy be reviewed to accommodate, motivate and encourage teachers with higher academic qualifications so that their effort doesn’t go to waste,” said Knut secretary general Collins Oyuu.

Oyuu said that last year they signed the 2021–2025 non-monetary CBA after assuming office but with the high cost of living, the CBA must be reviewed to ensure the teachers get a salary increment.

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“The inflation rate at the moment doesn’t allow that we hold several boardroom meetings with the employer, government agencies and even friends without mentioning the aspect of a monetary gain. Teachers want money and not stories,” said Oyuu.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta awarded all informal workers a 12 per cent salary increment on Labour Day, this shows the economy has improved. We are announcing that we have started a structured negotiation with TSC to see that a 60 per cent salary rise is awarded.”

Oyuu said that the salary demand is realistic compared to the proposal made under the previous regime led by Wilson Sossion.

Under Sossion, Knut had demanded a salary increment of between 120 to 200 per cent.

The rival Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) had also asked for a salary raise of between 30-70 per cent for the highest-paid workers and the lowest earners respectively.

Oyuu said that Knut and TSC agreed that the commission organises sensitisation workshops for all teachers so as to make them understand TPD and its implementation.

In refresher training courses, Oyuu said that the resistance that was witnessed after the TPD programme was rolled out was occasioned by the fact that proper sensitisation was not done.

Teachers, through the Kenya national union of teachers, KNUT, are demanding a 60 per cent salary increase, which as per their conditions, should be implemented instantly.

According to Knut secretary general Collins Oyuu, the high cost of living has necessitated a reconsideration into teachers’ meagre salaries.

“We have commenced a structured negotiation with the employer to see to it that a 60 per cent salary rise is awarded to teachers,” Oyuu said.

He was speaking during a press conference at Knut head office in Nairobi, where he called for a review of the 2021-25 collective bargaining agreement, which only had non-monetary benefits.

“The human resource benefits are both to the teacher, the employer, and everyone in this profession,” Oyuu said.

The 2021-2025 CBA had non-monetary benefits including extended paid maternity leave for female teachers and introduced paternity leave for male teachers.

Oyuu however maintained that it’s high time the Salaries and Remuneration Commission considers increasing teachers’ salaries.

“The inflation rate at the moment does not allow us to continue having boardroom meetings with our employer. The economic times are extremely harsh,” he said.

Oyuu said these demands formed part of the discussions held between TSC and Knut from July 7 to July 9.

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The official promised that the union and TSC have a formidable relationship going forward but said this will not hinder the union from fighting for teachers’ rights.

“This time round we have put it squarely and barely that teachers have an irreducible minimum demand. Teachers want money and not stories,” he said.

The lowest paid teacher could get a raise of Sh14,550, increasing their salary to Sh38,800 if the push by KNUT is approved.

Presently, teachers at Job Group B1 have a basic salary of Sh24,250.

If the push gets TSC’s nod, the highest paid teachers, who fall under Job Group D5 will get a raise of about Sh89,016.

This could push the teachers’ new salary to Sh237, 376 up from the present Sh148,360.

Knut also wants TSC to address the issue of payments for the Teachers Professional Development which are footed by the teachers.

Oyuu said TPD is a good idea that will help teachers, but faulted TSC for failing to sensitise teachers about the programme.

“We however discovered that TSC did not invest in sensitising teachers on its need, usefulness, involvement and its benefit, and that’s why it was met with resistance,” he said.

Teachers are supposed to pay Sh6,000 for TPD, which Oyuu said should be catered to by the government.

TPD seeks to help teachers renew their professional certificates every five years.

“The union in its intervention canvassed to have the National Assembly appropriate Sh4.5 billion for the purpose of purchasing modules in TPD, this money was availed,” Oyuu said.

Teachers are required to undertake in-service professional training lasting five years and get their certificates renewed.

The professional development will run for 30 years and has six modules each lasting five years.

“There is more that Knut and the employer can do to secure a budgetary allocation, particularly to fund training for all teachers,” Oyuu said.

On teacher promotion, the union said there is a need to review the policies on the same.

Currently, teachers are promoted based on appraisal mode and not the qualifications achieved.

“No teacher should lose financially out of being transferred or promoted. It is ironic when one is promoted and then they lose some benefits they really worked hard for,” Oyuu said.