Teacher’s employer on Wednesday inched closer to inking a deal with teacher’s unions after it received Sh10.5 billion to fully implement pay increment.
The unions, however, did not commit to calling off the strike, listing several issues that they claimed were yet to be resolved.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) said the strike set for August 26 is still on.
The Standard established that after a lengthy meeting with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the unions agreed to the proposal to fully implement the second phase of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
TSC confirmed that it had received the full budgetary allocation for the 2021-2025 CBA.
Accordingly, teachers would receive their full benefits and arrears for July in their August payslips.
It also emerged that the payroll was to be concluded on Wednesday for teachers to receive their salaries.
However, indications that schools may open was evident as both unions said they would call their top decision-making organs this week to brief them on the outcome of the Wednesday meeting.
Even though TSC and unions addressed separate media briefings, sources that attended the meeting disclosed that the union organs would call off the strike.
Will not be accepted
“Effectively, the unions have noted the TSC position and agreed to consult their internal organs to withdraw the strike notice. We, therefore, wish to thank the unions for engaging the Commission to ensure non-disruption of learning in schools during the Third Term, 2024,” said TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia.
Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori said: “We demand that the money be made available for the implementation of the CBA and that the salary arrears for July and August be included in the teachers’ salaries. Anything short of that will not be accepted.”
Misori further warned that teachers would not report to work when schools reopen next week if their demands are not met.
“We made it clear from the beginning of the budget-making process, even during the adjustment after the Finance Bill 2024 was rejected, that the Sh13.3 billion must be provided for the implementation,” he said.
Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu said although the commission wants unions to call off the strike, there is nothing to warrant that.
“We have asked them to address the issues and the CEO said she is going to address them administratively,” he said.
“They wanted us to call off the strike on one issue and we had five pertinent issues to be addressed. As they told us to call off the strike, we told them we have organs,” he added.
Oyuu said that it is the prerogative of the union’s high organs to make the decision. “We shall sit as teachers’ unions to address this issue to finality. We have told them we cannot call off the strike. We have the organs to address that. We can only address the bodies with the responsibility to do so,” he said.
Dr Macharia however said the two sides agreed to call off the strike based on the full CBA implementation.
“The issue of delayed implementation was as a result of budget cuts. However, the government has to look for means to ensure all has gone well,” she said.
The TSC boss insisted that the issues that were raised by the unions have adequately been addressed. “We urge our teachers to report to their stations come Monday,” she said.
Macharia further said up to date remittance of third-party deductions have been done and teachers can now access public and private health hospital under the teacher’s medical scheme.
She also said the government has provided resources for retooling of teachers for the implementation of CBC.
The employer also said that the government has promoted 51,232 teachers under competitive promotions and a further 20,000 annually on the common cadre.
A joint statement of the unions said that TSC pleaded with them to call off the strike following the implementation of the CBA.
“On calling off the strike, the Kuppet and Knut Secretary Generals clarified that the power rests with the National Governing Council and the National Executive Council for Kuppet and Knut respectively. The unions committed to convene the two organs once they receive concrete response on the Commission’s commitment to address the five outstanding issues,” reads the statement.
Other issues that the trade unions said must be resolved include a review of the Career Progression Guidelines and remittance of third-party deductions.
The unions also want issues on medical scheme resolved so that members can access public and private hospitals.
Misori said the unions also wanted clarity on the fate of 46,000 intern teachers who are yet to be converted to permanent and pensionable terms. “Regrettably, the Commission has once again failed to address our concerns. The Commissioners brought absolutely nothing tangible in five out of six irreducible demands we have made,” reads the joint statement.
