Teachers' Woes Worsen as Talks With TSC Fail

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Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia addresses the media in January 2020 in Nairobi
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The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) rejected the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) deal proposed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

The meeting held on Tuesday, June 29, at Safari Park hotel, Nairobi ended in a standoff between the teacher's unions and its employer as both parties could not agree on the terms stipulated.

According to KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori, the offer proposed by TSC did not include any monetary gains - which he alleged to be among the teachers' major grievances.

Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori speaking during a past press briefing
Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori speaking during a past press briefing
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He also faulted the commission for using the Covid-19 pandemic as grounds to deny teachers' salary increments.

The negotiations had been pegged to be a clean slate between the unions and TSC as they had been in a standoff over the promotion of teachers as well as their salary increments.

The announcement of negotiations, made by TSC CEO Nancy Macharia, came just days after Wilson Sossion had exited his position as the Secretary-General for KNUT.

Sossion in his long tenure as KNUT boss had lamented on constant frustrations caused by the Commission as he faulted them for not tending to the teachers' woes.

"There is currently no new CBA for teachers. They will, therefore, miss their salary increment and promotions," Sossion stated in a past interview.

During his final speech as KNUT boss, Sossion urged the government to look into the plight of teachers.

"I bow out of KNUT as the Secretary-General. I shall remain loyal to KNUT and will always be available to advise and support the leadership of the union.

"As I exit, I hope the government will support teachers. I am making this appeal. I trust that the government will find it necessary to allow the union money to flow to the teachers," he stated.

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Wilson Sossion at a press conference on Friday, June 25, 2021
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