Boost for nurses as COTU supports their ongoing strike

Boost for nurses as COTU supports their ongoing strike

The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) has thrown its weight behind nurses in the ongoing strike which entered its sixth day Saturday, June 10.

The acting Secretary General of COTU, Benson Okwaro, said the umbrella union will not allow employers to continue frustrating their workers, faulting the government for failing to address the strike with the urgency it deserves and instead spending a lot of money on campaigns.

Speaking in Nakuru Town, Mr Okwaro criticized the national government and the Council of Governors for refusing to sign the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) detailing the details of a deal struck between them and the nurses late last year.

“The Constitution is very clear as far as the workers protection is concerned, we appeal to President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Council of Governors to end the stalemate,” said Mr Okwaro.

“The two levels of government have been dodging responsibility a situation that has frustrated the nurses leading to the suffering and deaths of innocent Kenyans.”

“What nurses are asking for is simply the recognition of the CBA and this should not be interpreted as selfish because what they are demanding is within their constitutional right which must be respected.”

Mr Okwaro added that unless the government addresses the issue of nurses, “then we have no business as a country talking of big time capital projects when we fail to remunerate important employees like nurses who are an important part of the health sector, a critical sector in the economic development agenda of this country.”

He said COTU is gathering data to evaluate the challenges the health sector has faced since it was devolved adding that the union will make its recommendations to the national government.

“As of now COTU is of the opinion that it was wrong to devolve the health sector, the country was not ready for it,” said Mr Okwaro.

Mr Okwaro announced that On Tuesday, June 13, the union, the Ministry of Labour and the Nurses’ union officials will hold a mediation meeting in Nairobi to resolve the stalemate.

He called on the Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, Sarah Serem, to ensure that the commission sticks to its advisory role and stop meddling with the workers welfare.

“The commission should stop saying there is no money to sustain nurses salaries because we have multibillion projects which were not budgeted for and they have not been stopped.”

Tags:

Sarah Serem National Government Nurses strike Council of Govenors

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