Teacher unions demand hefty pay rise, new perks

Knut Secretary General Collins Oyu (left) and Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori during the signing of the 2021 - 2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement with teachers unions and TSC. [File, Standard] Teachers could soon take home up to double their current salaries if proposals pitched by their unions sail through. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) are separately pushing for substantial salary increments and a raft of new allowances that could put a heavy financial burden on the government. Knut wants a 60 per cent salary increase for the lowest earning members and a 50 per cent for the high earners. This will see the least paid teacher in primary school earn between Sh40,793 and 32,634, while the highest will get between Sh183,932 and Sh220,718. Meanwhile, Kuppet is demanding increments ranging from 50 to 100 per cent. If adopted, the lowest-paid Kuppet member - currently earning about Sh29,787 - could see their salary rise to nearly Sh60,000. Senior tutors could take home over Sh300,000 per month. But the unions are also calling for new allowances for teachers acting in specialised roles or taking additional responsibilities. Among the perks being proposed is a risk allowance for science teachers who handle hazardous chemicals in laboratories, a post-graduate allowance for teachers with advanced academic qualifications, and an overtime allowance for those working beyond official hours. These are part of the demands that will set the pace for talks on the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) later this month. Kuppet proposes that the lowest earning teacher in Grade B5 receives a 100 per cent salary increment: from Sh29,787 to Sh59,574. The union also proposes that the highest paid teachers (Grade D5) get a 50 per cent hike, pushing the pay up from Sh162,539 to Sh243,808. It's also demanding a 20 per cent increase in house allowance across all job clusters. Under the proposal, the allowance for the lowest paid teachers would rise from Sh3,850 to Sh4,620, with the highest paid will earn Sh8,100. For Knut members, they will earn a 30 per cent raise in house allowance if the proposal goes through. Those stationed in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret will see their housing allowances rise substantially. For instance, Grade B5 teachers will get Sh8,775 from Sh6,750 to, while Grade D5 tutors will receive Sh58,500, up from Sh45,000. Similar percentages apply to those in municipalities and smaller towns. For commuter allowances, Kuppet is calling for a steep increase of between 200 and 250 per cent across all job grades. This would give the lowest grade Sh14,000, up from Sh4,000, while the highest grade now at Sh16,000 would get Sh48,000. Knut also wants the allowance doubled, giving Grade B5 Sh8,000 monthly, up from Sh4,000, while the most senior currently earning Sh16,000 will get Sh32,000. Additionally, Kuppet wants hardship expanded to cover more regions as recommended by Parliament. New proposed hardship zones include Baringo, Kiambu, Kwale, Machakos, Homa Bay, Migori and Bomet counties. Hardship allowance ranges from Sh6,600 to Sh38,100 depending on job grades. The union is also demanding that the TSC aligns teachers' daily subsistence allowances with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission rates set in August, 2023. If approved, teachers in job Groups B2 to C1 will be reimbursed Sh6,300 for official travels, those in C2 to C5 will get Sh11,200, while teachers in D1 to D5 will receive Sh14,000. For Knut, teachers at all levels should get a 50 per cent increase. If the union's wish is granted, junior staff will now earn Sh9,450 per day, up from Sh6,300 as senior grades get Sh21,000, up from Sh14,000. Further, both Knut and Kuppet want the current leave allowance - ranging between Sh4,000 and Sh10,000 - scrapped and replaced with an amount equal to one-month basic salary. For teachers in science subjects, the proposed hazardous allowance will earn them 20 per cent of their basic pay. A similar 20 per cent risk allowance is proposed for teachers working in security-prone regions. Kuppet also wants the TSC to introduce an overtime allowance, especially for teachers in boarding schools and those handling co-curricular activities. Also on the draft CBA is a postgraduate allowance equivalent to 40 per cent of basic pay for teachers holding master's and doctoral degrees. Additionally, the union wants teachers to be paid a standing/extraneous allowance at the rate of 10 per cent of the basic salary, translating to between Sh5,958 and Sh24,380, to cover tasks that fall outside normal teaching duties. On medical benefits, Kuppet acknowledged improvements in the teachers' medical scheme but wants greater union participation in decision-making on service providers and benefit structuring. The union also proposes the inclusion of a Group Life Cover, which has reportedly been missing for the past two years, and the establishment of a dedicated Medical Directorate at the TSC to handle teachers' health matters. Kuppet also proposes that the lifespan of CBAs be reduced from four years to two, arguing a shorter cycle would allow for faster adjustment to changing economic realities. Kuppet has also proposed a tax relief package targeting education and life insurance policy premiums, especially for married couples where both spouses are in the teaching profession. Meanwhile, Knut is pushing for special recognition for teachers working in challenging environments like special schools in terms of allowances ranging from Sh15,000 to Sh21,000.

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