Why, after discussing with TSC, Knut retracted his threat of a strike.
In July 2024, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) discovered that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had not implemented the second phase of the 2021/2025 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in teachers’ pay slips. This omission prompted Knut to send a letter to TSC on August 5, 2024, requesting an urgent meeting to address the issue.
TSC acknowledged receipt of Knut’s letter on August 6, 2024, but indicated that a response would only be provided after internal discussions. When no response was forthcoming, Knut sent a reminder on August 12, 2024, which was also ignored. In response, Knut issued a strike notice on August 16, 2024, as a last resort to push for their demands.
The union outlined several demands, including the immediate implementation of the second phase of the CBA, remittance of third-party deductions to respective entities, conversion of 46,000 junior school teachers to permanent and pensionable terms, the hiring of 20,000 new teachers, promotion of 130,000 teachers stuck in various job grades, and immediate payment to the teachers’ medical insurer to ensure continued access to medical services.
On August 19, 2024, TSC invited Knut for a meeting at the Kenya School of Government, where these demands were discussed. During these deliberations, it was confirmed that teachers’ August 2024 salaries, including arrears from July, would reflect the CBA’s second phase of the salary increment. This action addressed one of the union’s primary concerns and was crucial in maintaining the integrity of the CBA framework.
Additionally, third-party deductions, including payments to commercial banks, teachers’ savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs), and other investment plans, were processed. The meeting on August 21, 2024, between the unions and TSC also provided a platform to strategize on how to address the remaining issues effectively.
Regarding teacher promotions, TSC informed Knut that 51,232 teachers had already been promoted through competitive interviews, with the process ongoing. Furthermore, some teachers were promoted by being placed in junior schools, where they would automatically advance in grade. For instance, a teacher in grade C1 would progress to C2, eventually reaching the Career Progression Guidelines for secondary school teachers. A technical team comprising representatives from Knut and TSC was established to ensure accurate data and a smooth promotion process.
On the issue of teachers’ medical insurance, the panel assured continued access to care in both public and private hospitals. However, Knut remained unsatisfied, leading to another meeting on August 27, 2024, involving Minet (the insurance provider), TSC, and Knut. This meeting addressed issues such as identifying service providers, delays in pre-authorization for services, insufficient outpatient funding, and late payments to service providers. While challenges persist, a system is now in place to resolve issues as they arise, with the county medical insurer’s governance council meeting every term to evaluate service delivery.
Regarding the conversion of 46,000 intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms, TSC committed to pushing the Treasury for the necessary budget allocation, especially since the courts have already ruled on this matter. The Kenya Kwanza government has also pledged to hire more teachers to address the teacher shortage and improve education standards, aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In conclusion, the unions’ victory in the planned strike primarily stemmed from TSC’s commitment to honoring the CBA by implementing the second phase of the teachers’ salary increase. This adherence to the CBA’s provisions ensures that unions retain the authority to negotiate future agreements, paving the way for unresolved issues to be addressed in the next CBA cycle for 2025-2029. Additionally, TSC needs to conduct a new job assessment to develop a revised career advancement guideline that will guide future negotiations for the new CBA.
