Teachers to push for standing allowance in new CBA

By Peter Ochieng

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) needs to brace for new allowances, in discussion with teachers over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Some leaders within the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) are pushing for the introduction of more allowances for teachers.

According to Ronald Tonui, KUPPET Assistant Treasurer, other professions have provisions for strenuous allowances, hence the same should be allocated to teachers.

Speaking in Siaya, he said they will propose to have a standing allowance in their next CBA with TSC.

“Next year we must sign a new CBA with TSC. A salary increase is a must in the CBA. We also want something called standing allowance because this is a very strenuous job. Others are asking for extraneous allowances and given, but we are yet to be given any. Standing allowance must be in our pay slips,” said Tonui.

Teaching is a job done while standing, with teachers getting time to have a seat while marking exams and assignments, or while in the staff room.

With each lesson taking at least 40 minutes, teachers do stand for most hours during a normal school day. Additionally, he said they shall push for the introduction of a ‘detoxification allowance’ for science teachers.

The teachers, he said, are normally exposed to dangerous criminals during practical lessons. “Those teaching chemistry deal with very dangerous chemicals, and we need to be compensated for that. Detoxification allowance must also be introduced.”

The Assistant Treasurer also championed the introduction of a ‘special duty or acting allowance,’ arguing that the majority of the teachers have been acting as Principals of various institutions but are never compensated.

Tonui urged KUPPET members to share more proposals, on issues that they would wish to be included in the new CBA, which he said is currently being worked on.