The Migori County Union of Workers has stepped up its efforts to urge the county government to address welfare issues affecting early childhood education (ECD) teachers.
The initiative follows the recent unionization of more than 600 early childhood teachers, demonstrating a collective effort to voice their concerns.
Before joining the union, early childhood teachers faced considerable difficulty in airing their grievances with the county government.
They feared potential victimization, which hindered their ability to openly express their well-being concerns.
According to Silvance Araja, the executive secretary of the Migori County Government Employees Union, ECD teachers have already presented some urgent issues to the county government for consideration.
There are notable inconsistencies in the travel allowances offered to ECD teachers. Araja noted that while certificate holders receive a small travel allowance of Ksh 800 per month, the labor law mandates a minimum of Ksh 3,000.
*Stagnation of job groups*
The union also reported that many ECD teachers have been in the same work group for ten years, since their first job, without any promotion or upward movement.
*Reclassification based on educational level*:
In addition, some teachers have progressed in their training and have not been reclassified in positions that correspond to their qualifications.
The union aims to ensure that the county government addresses these discrepancies and supports the professional growth and welfare of ECD teachers in Migori.
