The ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and teachers’ unions have reached a major milestone this evening, with the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) expressing mixed reactions to the latest salary proposals.
Addressing the media this evening at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori said the offer currently on the table does not fully meet the union’s expectations. However, talks were “progressing well.”
“I think it’s not very bad. We are progressing well. We have only sought a 10-minute break basically to look at the offer TSC has given us,” he said.
KUPPET had proposed a 50% to 100% increase in basic salaries for teachers. However, Misori revealed that the TSC offer falls significantly short of that.
“We demanded a basic pay rise of 50 to 100 per cent. But going by what we have, the maximum we’ve seen offered is about 35 per cent,” he explained.
READ ALSO:
Why Varsity funding and scholarship model is sinking future of education system
On the proposed percentages, the highest offer stands at 26 percent, with the lowest at 5 percent. The breakdown indicates that the lowest-paid teachers would receive up to 26 percent, while those in the highest job groups would get around 30 percent.
The highest offer to be given to teachers is 26 per cent and the lowest is as low as 5 per cent. Lowest paid teachers should get 26 per cent and highest 30 per cent,” he noted.
When pressed on whether the union would consult its members before accepting or rejecting the deal, Misori maintained that the negotiation team holds the authority to finalise the process.
“We are the ones that are tasked with the capacity and mandate to complete this process,” he asserted.
Despite the gaps, he assured that the team is taking time to reflect on the full scope of the offer before reaching a conclusive stance.
“So far, we are likely not to disclose whether we are agreeing or not agreeing, but allow us because we have sought time to consult. Consulting means that we can come up with something that we can give conclusively and convincingly,” he added.
The unions are expected to announce their final position once internal consultations are complete, despite growing tension among teachers eager for a fair deal.
By Joseph Mambili
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news.
