Lab technicians issue strike notice over ‘unfair’ SRC

The Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO) has issued a seven-day strike notice to its members over the recent job evaluation conducted by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) which it says has downgraded some of its members.

Speaking during a press conference on Monday, September 18, Secretary General Enock Wanyonyi expressed the union’s discontent with the manner in which the Sarah Serem led commission handled the job evaluation and grading exercise.

“The new banding and job grading relegates our members hence escalates the disharmony in the sector and it defeats the sole purpose that it intends to serve. Consequently under no circumstances can it be said to reflect the value and nature of our job,” Dr Wanyonyi said.

Dr Wanyonyi said that the union has been presenting its petitions and proposal for adjustments on the scaling but the Ministry Of Health, The Council of Governors (COG) and the SRC have not responded.

The SRC on July conducted a job evaluation for civil servants which has been criticized by Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary General Seth Panyako who on Wednesday, September 13, said that the health sector is under siege from SRC.

“The commission is down-grading health workers and is making decisions without consulting stakeholders,” Panyako said.

Panyako called on SRC commissioners to resign when their term expires in December.