KNUT Push for Agency Fees on TSC Field Officers Benefiting From Union Bargains.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) field officers benefiting from salary agreements negotiated by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) may soon be required to contribute agency fees.
Although the matter has yet to reach higher union bodies for official deliberation, some union officials have initiated discussions on the issue.
Union representatives acknowledge that many field officers, particularly Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs), gain from collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) negotiated with the employer despite not holding union membership.
This discussion is gaining traction among various officials as they recognize the implications of these agreements on non-unionized beneficiaries.
A union official, who spoke anonymously due to a lack of authorization, noted that some TSC field officers enjoy the advantages resulting from union negotiations despite ceasing to be active members once promoted as CSOs.
The official emphasized that although these officers no longer contribute to the unions, they continue to benefit from agreements made with the Commission.
Teachers Updates has established that CSOs have received the benefits of recent collective bargaining agreements even though they do not contribute to the unions.
The Commission currently has over 1,300 CSOs across the country, and it has been clarified that they are not part of the Commission’s secretariat staff.
Meanwhile, the TSC and teacher unions are actively engaged in discussions to shape the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
As negotiations progress, the unions are pushing for significant structural changes to improve career growth and compensation for teachers.
Union Proposals for Job Groups and Career Growth
KUPPET, KNUT, and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) are advocating for major revisions to job groups B5 and C5.
Their objective is to streamline career progression and prevent teachers from experiencing prolonged stagnation.
In addition, they propose the introduction of career advancement opportunities for classroom teachers without requiring them to assume administrative roles.
KNUT is seeking an expanded promotion ceiling that would allow primary school heads to rise to job group D5.
The union argues that this move aligns with the comprehensive school structure, which integrates Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE), primary, and junior school levels. Furthermore, they are pushing for leave allowances to be allocated according to teacher grades.
Special Needs Education (SNE) teachers, represented by KUSNET, are voicing their dissatisfaction with what they perceive as erroneous job designations and prolonged stagnation.
Read Also: Frustrated Teachers Demand Local Staffing in TSC After Local-Only Recruitment Policy
The stagnation has prompted some members to transfer to regular schools in search of better opportunities. KUSNET has therefore proposed that the Commission introduce special allowances for CSOs working in special schools and units.
As the TSC and unions engage in a give-and-take negotiation process for the new CBA, a crucial question remains: will the proposal to impose agency fees on CSOs gain traction in the discussions?
With ongoing debates about fairness and union contributions, it will be interesting to see whether this matter becomes a focal point in the upcoming negotiations.
KNUT Push for Agency Fees on TSC Field Officers Benefiting From Union Bargains.
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