TSC to promote 45,000 teachers, hire 20,000 more- KUPPET SG discloses

MISORI ELECTRIFIES KILIFI BGA WITH SPEECH FULL OF SUCCESSES

With his characteristic humour and swagger, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori wowed members attending the Kilifi branch general assembly with a speech highlighting the union’s massive successes from the recent strike that his political detractors refuse to acknowledge.

Likening the recent strike to a fishing expedition, the SG stated that no fisherman returns any type of fish (big or small) to the water unless it is a snake. He said the KUPPET strike was called off after catching a variety of fish. The three biggest fish caught were the confirmation of JSS teachers into permanent terms, the promotion of 45,000 teachers and opening talks on the new CBA for 2025-2029.

Misori disclosed at the meeting that KUPPET had reached a deal with the TSC to promote the 45,000 teachers by December and recruit another 20,000 new teachers by January 2025. These two steps are in fulfilment of the commission’s commitment to KUPPET under the court consent cum return-to-work formula signed on 2nd September 2024.

Adverts for the promotions and the recruitment will be published next week, he said. Among those to benefit from the new promotions are approximately 1,000 senior teachers who will be considered on priority basis, having stagnated for more than 10 years.

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The Secretary General clarified that, after the December promotions, another 45,000 teachers will be promoted before the end of the current CBA, i.e. by June 2025. “We will ensure TSC gets the budget to promote 130,000 teachers who passed promotional interviews last year by June 2025,” he promised.

On the Career Progression Guidelines, he said that new Guidelines are currently being developed with the union’s input. The new Guidelines, which borrow from the repealed Schemes of Service, will be launched by December for application in January 2025.

As of October 2024, the scorecard from the KUPPET strike reflects above 80% success rate as follows:

• Full implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA
• Third party deductions including loans
• Restoration of Teachers’ Medical Cover
• Conversion of 46,000 interns to permanent
• Recruitment of 20,000 new teachers
• Promotion of 45,000 teachers by December 2024
• Promotion of 45,000 teachers by June 2025
• Review of CPGs (by December)

The SG also said that the union’s demand for new CBA is as here below:

• Salary increment of 30% – 70%
• Reduction of the CBA cycle from four years to two
• Automatic career progression up to Deputy Principal level
• Payment of allowances for acting administrators
• Harmonisation of house allowances with Cluster 1
• Leave allowance equivalent to one moth pay
• Payment of Per Diems for out of station work
• Introduction of post-graduate and risk allowances
• Introduction of risk allowance for science teachers

“As always, I will ensure that we set realistic goals and employ effective methods in pursuing our interests. I urge members to walk hand in hand with us as we pursue these goals,” said the SG.

He labelled as opportunists some KUPPET officials who have been going around the country claiming the industrial action was a failure.

“Where are they when we are making these gains?” he asked, adding that the court consent KUPPET signed remains the strongest return-to-work formula ever signed by a union in Kenya.”  Misori said.

He urged teachers to take time and understand the union’s work rather than be agitated because of wrong information. The purpose of industrial action is not to lynch the TSC but to negotiate a win-win agreement for both parties.

On union dues which the TSC has refused to deduct for three months, he said the union had sued the commission in court. “TSC is obligated by law to collect dues for the union. They will have to follow the law,” he said.

During the meeting, the SG received a petition from Diploma teachers who lamented stagnation and discrimination in service. He addressed issues of the medical cover, declaring that KUPPET will demand to be party to the contract with the insurer.