UASU CONFERENCE By Brian Ondeng’ The 21st Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) annual delegates’ conference ended in disarray after the delegates failed to agree on proposed increment of members monthly deductions aimed at bolstering the union’s thin financial reserves. The conference held at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) failed to yield desired results as the delegates rejected the push by their national officials to have the members contributions increased from 1% to 4 % of their monthly basic salaries. Addressing the press immediately after the meeting the union’s Secretary General Prof. Muga Kolale stated that the increase was intended to give the union the financial muscle to enable it push for the pending CBA and to settle its recurrent debts. Prof.Kolale disclosed that the union was in a financial crisis with debts owed to its current and past national officials in terms of honoraria and allowances amounting to sh.10 million. The Secretary General maintained that the union had no other option but to increase members contributions so as to raise money that will enable the union effectively undertake its mandate. He observed that the union only raises Sh. 1.5 million monthly from members contributions an amount he stated had left the union with thin financial reserves and is inadequate to meet the high costs of frequent legal suits, strikes and negotiations on CBA’s. The proposal was however met with hostility by delegates representing various universities who felt that it was either too high or it was being imposed on members without adequate consultations. The meeting also rejected the proposal by the national officials to have the union engage on a full time basis and resolved to addresses to contentious issues only after members undertake exhaustive deliberations and consultations at their respective university chapters.
Posted on: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 12:57:21 +0000