TSC given a 7-day ultimatum to open CBA talks or face wrath of teachers

TSC News: TSC given a 7-day ultimatum to open CBA talks or face wrath of teachers

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has given the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) a seven-day deadline to start discussions on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that focuses on a salary review in the next budget.

KUPPET warned that if the commission does not initiate negotiations, it will lead to a nationwide mobilization of teachers demanding action.

During a capacity-building workshop in Mombasa, organized in partnership with the Canadian Teachers Federation, KUPPET Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima criticized the TSC for failing to fulfill its earlier commitment to meet with union representatives to discuss the 2025-2029 agreement.

“TSC promised to invite us to negotiate the 2025–2029 CBA since the last one ends in June,” Nthurima said.

“If we don’t negotiate salaries now, the budget will be approved without considering teachers’ pay. We are demanding a meeting because we submitted our memorandum last year.”

KUPPET’s proposals focus on salary increases to cushion teachers from the effects of inflation and the rising cost of living.

The union wants teachers across all job groups to benefit from substantial increments.

For instance, educators in Job Grade B5, currently earning between Sh23,830 and Sh29,787, would see their salaries double under the proposed plan, rising to between Sh47,660 and Sh59,574. Senior teachers in Job Group D5 would also receive an upward adjustment, although with a smaller percentage increase.

Nthurima also proposed a 20 per cent increase in house allowances across all job clusters to reflect escalating rental prices.

“Transportation costs are a heavy burden, so the union proposes increasing commuter allowances by 200 to 250 per cent across job grades. We also want daily subsistence allowances to reflect current travel expenses,” he said.

KUPPET also warned against any attempt to scrap hardship allowances for teachers posted in remote regions and called for the reclassification of hardship zones.

The union is demanding the inclusion of areas such as Lari in Kiambu County and parts of Nairobi.

In its detailed proposal, the union is also seeking a leave allowance equivalent to one month’s basic salary and a hazardous allowance of 20 per cent of basic salary for science teachers working in lab environments

Nthurima stressed that teachers could no longer afford to bear the brunt of economic pressure without meaningful financial support and urged TSC to act swiftly to avoid disruptions.