TSC should implement second phase of the 2021-2025 salary agreement.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has gone to considerable lengths to persuade the Departmental Committee on Education and Research and the Budget and Appropriations Committee that the Commission’s budget of Sh357, 773,737,118 should not be lowered.
Follow Us On WhatsApp Channel Link
Join Our WhatsApp Group.JOBS & VACANCIES HUB (1)
However, the National Treasury has gone ahead and cut the budget by Shs10 billion, as the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) is aware. The commission is unable to carry out the second and last stage of the 2021–2025 CBA as a result of the budget reduction.
In Kenya, collective bargaining agreements serve as important instruments for negotiating terms and conditions of employment between employers and workers’ representatives. These agreements focus primarily on increasing rewards as employees continue to perform their job tasks.
Follow Us On WhatsApp Channel Link
Join Our WhatsApp Group.JOBS & VACANCIES HUB (1)
The Kenyan constitution, labor laws, and the Industrial Relations Charter, which was published in 1957 and updated in 1984, contain the rules governing CBAs. It is important to remember that a CBA only becomes legally binding if it is properly registered with the Employment and Labour Relations Court, as was the case for this cycle.
KNUT firmly declares that the CBA is a legally binding document that was properly deposited in the Employment and Labour Relations Court. This is in light of the National Treasury’s decision and the failure of the two parliamentary committees to persuade the government not to reduce the TSC budget, which has undoubtedly affected the implementation of the Second Phase of the 2021–2025 CBA, the confirmation of the 46,000 Junior School intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms, and the promotion of teachers in the 2024–2025 fiscal year.
Follow Us On WhatsApp Channel Link
Join Our WhatsApp Group.JOBS & VACANCIES HUB (1)
As a result, the National Treasury, which is fully aware of the Agreement’s existence and contents, is unable to violate it by underfunding TSC in order to prevent it from fulfilling its contractual duties.
While KNUT acknowledges that the nation is experiencing difficult financial times, it would like to remind everyone that the 2.5 to 9 percent pay award that was given in this CBA through a review in 2023 was the very minimum that teachers could receive following unfavorable consultations.
As a result, the 2021–2025 CBA should not in any way be linked to the Finance Bill or the Appropriations Bill 2024, since the TSC/KNUT Agreement was negotiated and signed in 2021 and duly taken into account when calculating the National Government’s contractual spending for that year.
Follow Us On WhatsApp Channel Link
Join Our WhatsApp Group.JOBS & VACANCIES HUB (1)
The only choice left to the National Treasury is to provide TSC with sufficient funding in order for it to fulfill its debts.
Since the Treasury cut Shs10 billion from the TSC budget, KNUT is requesting that it unconditionally restore the money since it violates the CBA. In the event that TSC continues to disregard this CBA in addition to other unfulfilled responsibilities, it would be considered betrayal, a breach of contract, and a violation of teachers’ labor rights. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that neither TSC nor KNUT have withdrawn the CBA, so the Agreement must be followed exactly.
KNUT urges TSC to take all reasonable steps to guarantee that the legally binding Agreement is upheld, including pressing the National Assembly to adopt TSC’s Shs357, 773,737,118 budget without modification. In order to do this, the National Government should fulfill its commitment to provide teachers with pay raises in accordance with the revised 2021–2025 CBA.
Follow Us On WhatsApp Channel Link
Join Our WhatsApp Group.JOBS & VACANCIES HUB (1)
Additionally, the Commission should be given sufficient funding by the Budget and Appropriations Committee to execute the CBA as soon as possible. If this isn’t done, KNUT will pursue all available constitutional options to ensure that teachers receive their rightful compensation increases.
If the second part of the award is not implemented at this difficult time, when consumer goods and general service expenses are soaring, teachers will become very demoralized and demotivated, which would make it impossible for them to provide our children with a quality education.
A poor quality of life prevents a teacher from providing a good education. Instructors may not be able to give their all at work if they are unable to pay for their children’s school fees, adequate housing, or medical care.
Follow Us On WhatsApp Channel Link
Join Our WhatsApp Group.JOBS & VACANCIES HUB (1)
The Union is eager to develop innovative strategies for managing labor relations with its social partners, but we fear that if this CBA is not fully honored, all the progress made in improving labor relations in the modern world may be undone. If the country is unwilling to comprehend their own economic issues, teachers could not be pressured to comprehend the country’s.
Furthermore, we fear that if the administration does not move quickly, the start of the third term in 2024 may be delayed. Given that the first and second terms were impacted by anti-government protests, destructive floods, and insecurity in some areas, the industry has been and is still creating more time to make up for the lost teaching and learning time. This needs to be carefully watched to guarantee that the maximum amount of content is shared.
Follow Us On WhatsApp Channel Link
Join Our WhatsApp Group.JOBS & VACANCIES HUB (1)
Furthermore, it is crucial to remember that KNUT is currently preparing for the 2025–2029 CBA and that not honoring the previous one will have a detrimental effect on the new one. We pray that the administration would use its time to make amends by restoring stakeholder trust through keeping its promises!
TSC should implement second phase of the 2021-2025 salary agreement
Follow Us On WhatsApp Channel Link
Find Us On TelegramGroup Link.
Check Latest Open/Jobs Here.
