This archive report was first published on 13 July 2021.
On July 13, 2021, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) reached a non-monetary collective bargaining agreement with three major teacher unions in Kenya: the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET), the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET).
The agreement, which covers the period 2021-2025, was signed after a day-long negotiation between the unions and the TSC. The unions had initially declined to sign the agreement in June, citing a lack of monetary benefits.
According to KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori, the unions agreed to sign the agreement as it is, but promised their members that a review of the basic pay would be undertaken after the TSC is given a go-ahead by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
"We have committed to subscribe to the CBA, but the issue of basic pay remains unaddressed. We hope to meet with TSC in the near future and have a review in regards to what we had proposed when things improve," stated Misori.
The agreement includes several benefits for teachers, including the extension of maternity and paternity leave days. Maternity leave will now be extended to 120 days from 90 days, while paternity leave will take 21 days up from 14 days.
