KNUT and TSC Resolve Contentious Issues in Recognition Agreement
Top officials from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) concluded a week-long retreat in Naivasha.
The retreat focused on addressing contentious clauses in the new five-year recognition agreement, a document that has governed industrial relations between the two entities since its inception in 1968.
The agreement, traditionally renewed every five years, provides a framework for negotiating teachers’ terms and conditions of service. Upon review and finalization, the document will be signed and deposited with the Registrar of Trade Unions, ensuring it becomes legally binding.
Contentious Issues Addressed
Among the issues discussed were the number of KNUT branches nationwide, union representation for institutional heads, and rights and privileges as defined in the 2010 Constitution.
KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu emphasized that the meeting was productive, addressing key concerns regarding teachers’ welfare, including staffing, transfers, and industrial relations.
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A committee comprising representatives from both KNUT and TSC will refine the agreed-upon issues, ensuring a harmonious resolution.
Oyuu expressed optimism, stating that welfare-related matters should be resolved amicably without resorting to industrial action.
Preparation for New Collective Bargaining Agreement
KNUT expects to sign the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with TSC, as the current 2021–2025 CBA will expire in June 2025.
Relations between the two parties have improved significantly following a 2019 dispute that had reduced KNUT’s membership to just over 10,000. Membership has since rebounded to over 100,000.
The existing recognition agreement, signed on August 8, 2021, marked a shift by assigning KNUT the role of representing teachers in primary schools only, as opposed to the earlier arrangement where membership was open to all teachers.
Terms and Conditions of Service
The draft agreement binds KNUT and TSC to structured and professional negotiations concerning members’ terms and conditions of service. It stipulates that discussions between the employer and the union must occur in a conducive environment, free from threats or industrial action.
Any agreements reached will be documented in writing and signed at the end of each meeting. Should negotiations fail, disputes will be referred to the Cabinet Secretary for Labour under the Labour Relations Act of 2007. However, KNUT is pushing for an amendment allowing appeals in the High Court of Kenya.
Historical Disputes
Disputes between TSC and KNUT have a history spanning over 60 years, often recurring despite legally binding agreements. For example, KNUT called off a planned strike on August 25, 2024, following last-minute agreements with TSC.
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The issues raised included the employment of 46,000 junior school teachers, with TSC addressing several of these concerns. An advertisement for an additional 20,000 positions has also been posted.
This renewed cooperation signifies progress in resolving long-standing challenges while safeguarding teachers’ rights and interests.
KNUT and TSC Resolve Contentious Issues in Recognition Agreement
