The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Oyuu has said that the proposal by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to increase salaries of civil servants by 7 to 10% poses a threat to the future of collective bargaining for teachers.
Oyuu said that SRC did not consider Article 14(5) of the Constitution which provides for employers and employer’s organisations to engage with employees through their union representatives in formulating Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
“The same is contained in the Employment Act Chapter 226 and the Code of Regulations for teachers and the Recognition Agreement binding employers and employees. Thus, the general law provides that specific procedures must be observed when determining salaries and allowances for not only teachers, but also all public servants,” Oyuu said.
He noted that the art of collective bargaining incorporates factors such as reading and gauging of emotions, facial expressions and body language by both parties.
“For trade unions, which are usually in the disadvantaged position, these factors assist them in communicating, motivating themselves and strategically overcoming conflicts and reaching an agreement; all which is taken away by such unilateral declarations pronounced by SRC,” he added.
Oyuu observed that the increment proposal does not incorporate allowances that are critical at the moment with the Finance Act 2023 affecting the prices of consumer commodities.
“We may not have an opportunity to deliberate on allowances if this precedence is sustained. Transport, rental and medical costs are not the same as they were 10 years ago. We therefore need to talk about these aspects too,” he said.
This comes weeks after both KNUT and KUPPET said that they had reopened negotiations to include a monetary element in the 2021-2025 CBA.
By Vostine Ratemo
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