Kuppet, Knut differ over TSC salary proposal for teachers

Teachers' Unions have ended up disagreeing after holding salary review talks with their employer, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

This is after they held a closed-door meeting over salary review talks, at the Kenya School of Government on Tuesday.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) rejected a new salary proposal by TSC, saying it is below both the presidential directive and Salary Remuneration Commission advisory.

According to the union, TSC has proposed a salary of between 2.4 to 9.5 percent, with the lowest-earning teacher getting the highest percentage and the highest-earning teacher getting the lowest percentage.

However, KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori said the proposal is far below their expectation, therefore, the meeting was not successful.

“It is sad what TSC has presented and is even less than what the SRC gave. The proposal according to TSC is giving lower figures than what teachers out there expect. Even what the president announced is not within what TSC is thinking about,” Misori said.

Misori questioned why TSC came up with a new salary proposal instead of focusing on what President William Ruto and SRC had advised.

“The SRC said teachers and other public servants to get between seven to 10 per cent. But we were expecting not less than that. We realized that it is either the SRC was lying to us or the TSC was not being genuine or serious with these negotiations,” Misori said.

On the other hand, the Kenya National Union of Teachers welcomed the proposal by their employer saying it is considering low earners.

KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu said in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 2017-2021, teachers in classrooms were given a raw deal as they were not being catered for.

“The 2.4 to 9.5 per cent is welcomed by KNUT. Let the lowest-earning teacher get the highest percentage and the highest-earning teacher get the lowest percentage. And so in that line, we agree with TSC and we want it to be followed to the latter,” Oyuu said.

“What has been brought in before us includes the seven to 10 percent. It is now upon us as the union together with the employer, to agree who gets what so that it does not go beyond seven to 10.”

Following the failed talks, KUPPET urged teachers to be patient adding that the talks will continue until they reach an agreement.

“We are asking our teachers to be very patient because this is something that is taking a lot of our energy. We wish to ask them to be very patient so that we have conclusive engagements on Monday,” Misori said.

“We can still take more time so long as we get to the teachers what is agreeable with the employer.”