TSC Agrees to Implement Phase II of Teachers’ 2021-25 CBA
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced that the government has approved funds for the second phase of the CBA, which will take effect on July 1, 2024.
The pushed back implementation of the reviewed 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) was first on the agenda.
In August last year, the Commission and union leaders agreed to revise the 2021-2025 CBA to include a wage increase of up to 9.5 percent spread over two years.
The first version of the CBA had no monetary component.
Aside from the basic wage rise, the agreement with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education (KUPPET), and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) includes a home allowance for teachers in cluster 4, which is payable over two fiscal years.
Up to 87 percent of public teachers, the majority of whom are stationed in rural areas, receive dwelling allowances under the Cluster 4 category.The allowance adheres to the normal requirements, which include the teacher’s job grade and workstation.
The total consequence of increasing the home allowance for teachers in Cluster 4 is that it now matches what is paid to those in Cluster 3, with full harmonization scheduled for July 2024.
The TSC home allowance increases with work grade, as do commuter, hardship, and leave allowances.
The 2021-2025 agreement was developed and implemented during an economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 epidemic, which interrupted global supply networks, prompting a reversal of previous monetary and fiscal policy.
At the time, the TSC and the teachers’ unions agreed to suspend the monetary component of the CBA and revisit it once the economy recovered.
The Commission began conversations with the three teacher unions in August with the goal of revisiting the 2021-2025 CBA after the National Treasury estimated Kenya’s economic growth would increase to 5.5 percent in 2023, up from 4.8 percent the previous year.
Planned Teachers Strike
On Friday, June 16th, 2024, His Excellency President Dr. William Samoei Ruto authorized the Teachers Service Commission to negotiate with teachers’ unions to resolve an industrial dispute over many issues affecting the welfare of public school teachers.
The ruling came after teachers’ organizations issued a strike notice over the contentious issues. The TSC requested that the three teacher unions (KNUT, KUPPET, and KUSNET) meet on Wednesday to examine the issues.
Effectively, the unions have taken note of the TSC’s position and opted to discuss with their internal organs before lifting the strike notice.
TSC thanked the unions for assisting the Commission in guaranteeing that there will be no disruptions to learning in schools during the Third Term of 2024.
Despite the difficult economic circumstances, the TSC thanked the government for providing adequate funding for the CBA and all other teacher programs.
TSC also complimented teachers and other stakeholders for the tremendous work they continue to do to facilitate smooth learning in schools.
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The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) declared that it is dedicated to ensuring a positive working environment for all teachers under its employ.
TSC has advised all teachers to report to school on Monday for the start of the Third Term, as the government has approved funding for the second half of the 2021-2025 CBA.
TSC Agrees to Implement Phase II of Teachers’ 2021-25 CBA
