The three main teachers unions and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) finally signed the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 2021-2025 in the talks that have been going on for months.
The TSC announced that they had reached an agreement 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) tying all teachers to the agreed terms.
“We are happy to announce that all parties have reached a deal. We have signed a new CBA 2021-2025 but there is room for strengthening it in the future,” said Dr. Nancy Macharia, the TSC CEO on Tuesday.
In the new 2021-2025 CBA, TSC will be offering couples schools that are close to each other (that is if both of them are close to each other and if there are available vacancies. The new 2021-2025 CBA is set to commence on the 1st of July 2021.
Before this CBA agreement, teachers who TSC has employed and are couples had been forced to work away from each other as the consideration of them being a couple was never in the previous CBA.
Teachers in areas that TSC has recognized as hardship areas shall now enjoy better terms as hardship allowances have been agreed based on job groups or job grades. It has been revealed that hardship allowances will be paid in all job groups.
In the new CBA, 15,000 KNUT members are set for a huge windfall from the Sh. 54 billion pay package where they did not receive the third and fourth phases of the previous CBA for the years 2017 – 2021 starting on the month of August 2021.
The Commission and the teachers’ unions also agreed to begin Career Progression training for teachers to equip teachers with knowledge and skills. The training shall also inform the promotion of teachers to the various job grades.
Maternity leave days have also been increased from 90 to 120 days. On paternity leave, days for paternity leave have been increased from 14 to 21 days.
Kenyatta University, Riara University, Mount Kenya University, and the Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI) were selected as the institutions that will train the teachers.
The above-mentioned institutions will offer Teacher Professional Development (TPD) program which TSC is going to launch.
Salary increments are not going to be provided as the signing is just the start with another meeting set to be held in less than 12 months from now that could see a review agreement struck between the teachers’ unions and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
According to the TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia, the recommendations from the Salaries and Remuneration Committee informed the new CBA 2021-2025.
“Although the union’s proposal included financial component the Commission beseeched them to consider the advice given by the SRC that directed a free on salary reviews in the public sector,” said Dr. Nancy Macharia, the TSC CEO.
Akello Misori on his part said that the gains of teachers from 2017 have been considered in the new deal and revealed that the new CBA has to undergo a review as stated once TSC gets clearance.
“We have a small period to improve the CBA and we shall see to it that we review this CBA,” said Akello Misori, the KUPPET secretary-general.
KNUT secretary-general Collins Oyuu said that even though the monetary gains are not in the new CBA, negotiations are underway.
Teachers have been allowed 45 days for those wishing to adopt children while teachers in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) will see their allowances reviewed upwards.
The same will apply to teachers with disabilities, as their allowances will be paid according to the regions they work in.
Data on talented teachers and those showing exemplary work will also be captured and then the Commission shall reward them accordingly.
“As part of the Commission’s efforts to recognize exemplary teachers. We have this month rolled out an exercise to capture data of all those staff who excel in various spheres of work with a view to rewarding them accordingly as would be decided from time to time. These areas would include excellence in the national examinations, sport, theatre, institutional management, innovation, research, and advocacy, among others,” said TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia after the signing of the new 2021-25 CBA.