Members of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) are calling for the introduction of additional benefits specifically tailored to the teaching profession. Ronald Tonui, KUPPET Assistant Treasurer, emphasized that while other professions have provisions for strenuous allowances, teachers should receive similar benefits.
He stated that these demands will be part of their upcoming Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) next year. “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 are given them, but we have yet to receive any. Standing allowance must be on our payslips,” Tonui explained.
Tonui urged union members to come forward with additional proposals for issues they would like included in the new CBA they are currently developing. He also mentioned plans to introduce a ‘detoxification allowance’ for science teachers due to the hazardous chemicals they frequently encounter 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.”
He also pushed for introduction of ‘special duty or acting allowance’ arguing that the majority of teachers have been acting as Principals of various institutions but are never compensated for such role.
Mr. Tonui made the remarks during KUPPET Siaya branch Annual General Meeting in Siaya town where stated that the recent decision by their sister union KNUT to snub the nationwide teachers’ only strengthened KUPPET.
He stated that decision was a blessing in disguise for KUPPET since it provided them with opportunity prove their strength in the labor movement, adding they disapproved those who thought that they could not mount a strong countrywide teachers strike without the participation of KNUT.
