Teachers’ Salaries To Delay Further As TSC Withdraws Payroll

Teachers’ Salaries To Delay As TSC Withdraws Payroll. Shortly after holding meetings with teachers’ unions and other stakeholders in education, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) decided to withdraw the August payment.

 

After first preparing the payroll for instant distribution to banks and savings cooperatives, the Commission ultimately opted to withhold it because of additional reasons.

 

Instructors had been looking forward to their August paychecks, which were scheduled to contain back pay going all the way back to July 1.

 

Following extensive negotiations with the unions, TSC agreed to pay the salaries on Friday and complete the procedure on Saturday.

 

But TSC reneged on its pledge, and no money was paid, leaving bank and cooperative branches nationwide without disbursements.

According to sources, TSC withheld the payroll due to the impending teachers’ strike, scheduled to begin next week.

 

The Commission is using the August salary as leverage to compel teachers to return to work, with only those who report back being paid.

 

Data on attendance will be collected by heads of institutions and submitted to TSC headquarters in Nairobi. KUSNET members, who are not participating in the strike, will still receive their salaries.

 

Despite TSC’s withdrawal, members of both Knut and Kuppet remain resolute in their decision to strike starting August 26, 2024, when schools are set to reopen.

Teachers’ Salaries To Delay As TSC Withdraws Payroll

The unions argue that TSC only addressed one of their five demands by agreeing to implement the second phase of a Sh13 billion pay deal, which includes salary increases ranging from Sh2,570 for the lowest-paid teachers (B5) to Sh393 for the highest earners (D5).

The new salary scales will raise the lowest-paid teachers’ earnings to between Sh23,830 and Sh29,787, while the highest-paid will earn between Sh131,389 and Sh162,539.

 

Teachers will also benefit from various allowances, including commuter, housing, leave, and hardship allowances, ranging from Sh3,850 to Sh50,000, depending on the category.

 

TSC’s CEO, Dr. Macharia, confirmed that these salary adjustments would be reflected in August payslips, with arrears backdated to July 1.

 

This increase follows a similar adjustment last year as part of the first phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). On Wednesday, TSC announced it had received the necessary funds from the government to fully implement the second phase of the pay deal, affecting over 370,000 teachers nationwide.

 

Teachers in pay Grade B5 will receive a minimum increase of Sh1,037, bringing their pay to Sh23,830, while the highest earners in this group will take home Sh29,787.

 

This marks the final implementation of the deal signed last August by Knut, Kuppet, and Kusnet.

KNUT and KUPPET are sticking to their strike plans in spite of these promises, citing unsolved issues like the confirmation of 46,000 interns and the advancement of 130,000 instructors.

 

Considering that the government has already set aside money for the wage raise, Dr. Macharia has asked educators to report back to work on Monday.

 

Along with these resolutions, the unions are pushing for changes to the medical plan that will guarantee access to both public and private hospitals, repayment of third-party deductions, and a review of the Career Progression Guidelines.

Teachers’ Salaries To Delay As TSC Withdraws Payroll