Act fast on salary deal, Kuppet tells TSC bosses
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) yesterday accused the teachers’ employer of failing to act on its salary demands.
Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori said the union’s national executive board has considered the response by Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to the salary demands on the 2021/25 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) issued last month, but none of their issues have been addressed. He said teachers are not interested in strikes but prefer better terms of service.
“The TSC is taking the union and the workforce for granted. Regrettably, the commission’s response does not merit our demands,” said Misori at a press conference in Nairobi.
Misori said the TSC merely acknowledged the union’s letter and promised to respond substantively at a later stage. He regretted that the 21-day period they gave has now lapsed.
“In the absence of a clear-cut commitment by the TSC to re-open talks, the so-called response has caused more uncertainty. The commission has not addressed the prospect of our members getting their salary review this year, which they deserved during the third public sector remuneration and benefits review cycle.
According to Misori, teachers deserved salary increments upon expiry of the previous CBA for 2016/21.
Last month, Kuppet demanded a salary increment of between 30 percent and 70 percent for the highest and lowest paid teachers, respectively. Misori said the lowest paid teachers’ salary should rise from Sh34,955 to Sh59,425 while the highest should move from Sh118,242 to Sh153,715.
“Covid-19 should no longer be used to deny teachers their deserved salary reviews,” he said. The union is also seeking a raise in commuter, leave, and house allowances.
On the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) debate, the union said it was in full support of the system.
