Teachers Service Commission (TSC) field officers benefiting from salary agreements made by both the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) will soon be required to pay agency fees.
Some union officials have already begun a conversation about this topic, although it has yet to be presented to the higher union bodies for review and action.
Union representatives are aware that many field officers, particularly Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs), benefit from bargaining agreements made with the employer without being union members themselves. The discussion is gaining traction and interest among various union officials.
“It is true that some TSC field officers benefit from our struggle even though they are not our members. Once teachers are promoted as CSOs, they cease to be active members of the union; however, any deal we negotiate with the Commission still benefits them,” explained a union official who requested anonymity due to a lack of authorization to speak on behalf of the union regarding this issue.
Education News has also learned that in all recent collective bargaining agreements, CSOs have enjoyed the benefits of union efforts, even though they do not contribute to the unions.
The Commission has over 1,300 CSOs across the country, and it has been established that these officers are not part of the Commission’s secretariat staff.
The TSC and teacher unions are currently engaged in discussions that will lead to the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
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KUPPET, KNUT, and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) have proposed overhauling job groups B5 and C5 to streamline career progression and prevent prolonged stagnation.
The unions also advocate for creating advancement opportunities for classroom teachers without requiring them to hold administrative positions.
KNUT is seeking an expanded promotion ceiling that would allow primary school heads to progress to job group D5. They argue that this change is necessary due to the comprehensive school arrangement that encompasses Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) and primary and junior schools.
They also call on the Commission to grant teachers leave allowances based on their grades. Special Needs Education (SNE) teachers under KUSNET are opposing what they consider incorrect job designations and prolonged stagnation, which have led some members to transfer to regular schools.
KUSNET’s proposal includes requests for the Commission to award special allowances to CSOs in special schools and units.
As the TSC and unions engage in a give-and-take negotiation process for the new CBA, it will be intriguing to see if the upcoming discussions about including CSOs in paying agency fees will feature in the negotiations.
Education News remains committed to keeping you informed about the CBA negotiations.
By Kaptich Tarus.
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