Teachers to Miss Pay Hike That Was to Start This Month - TSC

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced that it is unable to pay the much awaited 9.5% pay hike for teachers, which was scheduled to reflect in this month’s payslip, July 2024. 

TSC CEO Nancy Macharia told Parliament that the move was necessitated by the budget cuts that have been introduced in the wake of the fall of the Finance Bill of 2024. 

TSC’s budget has been slashed by Ksh10 billion, which according to Ms Macharia, make it impossible to implement the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which outlines salary increases and improved benefits for teachers across the country.

According to the teachers employer body, this reduction jeopardizes the second phase of the CBA, which was set to deliver a salary increase of up to 9.5% for teachers, effective July 1, 2023.

"We have communicated to the Treasury about the impact of these cuts. We simply don't have the funds to implement the CBA by the end of the month. Our budget allocation only allows us to cover existing salaries," Macharia explained.

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The CBA, signed between the TSC and teachers' unions, including 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), included increased house allowances and other improvements in terms of service.

The announcement of budget cuts comes amid rising tensions following anti-government protests and the fall of the finance bill 2024.

Macharia warned that delays in implementing the CBA could lead to lawsuits, and penalties, and damage the working relationship between the TSC and teachers' unions. 

"When a CBA is signed with unions, it is deposited in court to show commitment to implementation. Failing to fulfill this could lead to litigation and accusations of bad faith," she stated.

Julius Melly, the parliament committee chair, emphasized that they would not allow the Treasury and TSC to interfere with the CBA implementation.

 "Knowing that a CBA exists that could trigger a strike if affected, why would you choose to cut funds in a committed area? Are you shooting yourself in the foot?" he asked.

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Luanda MP Dick Maungu criticized the TSC for opting to delay the CBA implementation instead of reorganizing budgets in other sectors after budgetary cuts. 

"Why has the TSC decided to touch the CBA when directed by the National Treasury to reduce their budget by KSh10 billion? This problem is of your own making," Maungu said.

Additionally, teachers are expected to face challenges in accessing crucial health services due to a 50% reduction in the medical cover scheme budget, resulting in a shortfall of KSh11.8 billion. 

The medical scheme, under Minet, is in its second year of implementation in a three-year framework contract, with services such as group life and group personal accident covers.

"The government will face litigation over this medical scheme issue because we already have an agreement with the provider. Both secretariats and teachers will be affected because the scheme cannot continue to function," Macharia noted.

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