BY GEORGE OWINO: The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has demanded immediate talks to review its Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Teachers Service Commission, rejecting recent salary adjustments approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission for failing to address deep pay disparities.

According to KUPPET, the revised salary scales approved for national government civil servants have widened the compensation gap, particularly for senior grades.

Teachers are set to receive salary increases ranging between Sh900 and Sh2,000 under current proposals, which the union contrasts unfavorably with the benefits received by other civil servants.

Secretary General Akelo Misori stated that the salary harmonization achieved during the Grand Coalition Government has been undone, with the salary gap between teachers and comparable civil servants now exceeding 60 percent.

Huge disparity

SRC’s revised structure places top civil servants in Grade E4 on basic monthly salaries between Sh312,000 and Sh576,000 (with Grade E3 earning up to Sh400,000 excluding house allowances), whereas teachers max out at Grade D5 with a highest basic monthly salary of Sh133,354.

While entry-level teachers earn slightly more than equivalent civil service counterparts, KUPPET National Chairperson Omboko Milemba noted that progression heavily favors other public workers, pointing out that a public service sweeper earns Sh25,000 compared to a trained teacher’s starting salary of Sh26,000.

Milemba also criticized the TSC’s negotiating efficacy, warning that if the commission cannot secure proper terms through the SRC, teachers would prefer being placed under the Public Service Commission.

SHA hurdles

Beyond compensation, KUPPET raised serious concerns regarding medical service provision under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Despite monthly salary deductions, teachers continue to experience treatment delays, system failures, and out-of-pocket expenses.

Mr Misori highlighted that teachers seeking specialized care, such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), are forced to pay up to Sh250,000 out-of-pocket for diagnostics that should be covered.

The union accused the government of failing to honor agreements made during discussions held in March and April regarding teachers’ medical covers.

Industrial action warning

KUPPET has warned that educators could resort to industrial action if these salary disparities and healthcare delivery failures are not swiftly resolved.

The union urged the government, SRC, and TSC to engage in meaningful dialogue to restore fairness and ensure a motivated teaching workforce, further suggesting that the TSC provide an alternative comprehensive medical cover if problems with the SHA persist.