Teachers Strike Looms As TSC Fails To Implement phase 2 of CBA
The Government and teachers are headed on a collision course after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) failed to implement phase 2 of CBA.
TSC failed to honour a collective bargaining agreement signed between the two parties in 2023 following budget cuts.
When she appeared before the Education Committee of the National Assembly, TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia informed MPs that their overall budget had been reduced by Ksh.10 billion, which would have an impact on the implementation of the second phase of the teachers’ CBA.
Macharia also informed the committee that Junior Secondary School intern instructors could only be hired in January, not this month as previously anticipated.
Teachers Strike Looms As TSC Fails To Implement phase 2 of CBA
The Kenya Kwanza Government’s commitment to hire 20,000 additional teachers this month will likewise fall through, as Macharia has stated that recruitment will not begin until October.
Regarding the CBA, Macharia informed the committee that failing to respect their promises to the teachers will result in court actions and strikes.
According to an agreement reached by the TSC and teachers’ unions, teachers would get a basic pay increase of up to 9.5 percent beginning July 1, 2023.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) all signed the accord.
Teachers Strike Looms As TSC Fails To Implement phase 2 of CBA
The committee, led by Julius Melly (MP Tinderet), was caught aback by the Treasury’s decision to reduce spending in such critical sectors.
“We can’t allow you to touch the issue of CBA implementation because that will affect learning across the country,” according to the committee head.
“We don’t want to see teachers going to the streets at this critical time because of retained benefits,” she added.
Teachers Strike Looms As TSC Fails To Implement phase 2 of CBA
Teachers will also encounter barriers to getting important health care because the medical coverage system has been cut by half, resulting in a Ksh.11.8 billion shortage.
Minet’s medical scheme was in its second year of operation under the three-year framework contract, and services including group life, group personal accident, and WIBA were no longer available.
