By D, KNA
A group of teachers in Homa Bay county have protested over a decision by their union to impose new deductions on their pay slips.
The teachers accused the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) of unilaterally deducting Sh200 purportedly as Burial Benevolent Fund (BBF).
The teachers led by John Paul Owino who teaches at St Mary’s Girls Nyamarimba Secondary and Ben Obop of Pap Ndege Secondary School said they did not approve of the deductions.
Speaking to the press in Homa Bay Town Friday, the teachers said they were not comfortable with the union imposing new deductions on their pay slips.
“We are concerned by the new deductions on our salaries; we were neither consulted nor did we approve of it.” Owino said.
He blamed the union leadership of killing teachers’ morale.
“Teachers feel frustrated because their salaries are raided without their approval. Let them stop killing our morale,” Owino said.
Obop accused the union leadership of promoting policies which work against the welfare of teachers. He said such policies leave teachers frustrated.
“The work of a union is to promote the welfare of teachers. But what is happening in our union especially from the branch level, is the opposite.” Obop said.
Obop also accused the union leadership of allowing politicians to frustrate teachers.
“We recently saw Kisumu East MP Shakil Shabir humiliating teachers. Some politicians have taken over the mandate of recruiting teachers. The general welfare of teachers is poorly handled by the union,” said Obop.
He called for an overhaul of the union branch leadership to save the teachers from the misery.
Obop is an aspirant for KUPPET Chairmanship in Homa Bay.
Contacted to comment on the issues, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori defended the union saying the Sh200 was adopted after proposals came the union members from all its branches in the country.
Misori said the money is mainly meant for meeting burial expenses when teachers are bereaved.
“We received varying amounts for BBF from various branches, some proposals were much higher than the Sh200 but we decided to harmonize them,” Misori said.
He said the BBF is not handled by the KUPPET headquarters.
“This is money channeled to branch offices to help meet funeral expenses hence there should be no hubris.” Misori said.