Union wants county government to promote employees

The Union of Kenya Civil Servants in Siaya has petitioned the County’s Public Service Board to award promotions to its employees before the end of this financial year 2015/2016.

According to the Union’s County Executive Secretary Geoffrey Okoth Ooko, the union had agreed with the county government to set aside at least 5% of its budget towards promotion of workers but no promotions have been awarded to date.

He noted that with only one month remaining to the end of the financial year 2015/2016, the County Public Service Board is still dillydallying, and therefore asked the Board through its Chairman Joe Donde to rise to the occasion and ensure the money is put to its intended purpose.

Ooko advised Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga to be cautious, arguing that the Board was letting him down.

The Executive Secretary who hailed the Governor for having total respect to the workers, told him that his lieutenants were letting him down in terms of service delivery and warned that they will only be ready to back him for re-election if the workers get promotions and proper salary increments.

He was speaking during the Siaya County Government workers’ union elections at Siaya ATC, where he faulted the Council of Governors’ recent remarks that county governments will not recognize national based unions.

Ooko termed the remarks as      unfortunate, saying this has triggered them into finding a way through which they can form an umbrella union for workers in Siaya county to be able to sign a recognition agreement with the county government on pertinent issues.

He revealed that they are so far in talks with all the four unions in Siaya County including the Doctors’ union (KMPDU), the nurses’ union, Union of Kenya Civil Servants and the County Government Workers’ Union to find a way of forming the umbrella union.

During the elections, Wilson Odembo was elected Chairman of the Siaya County Government Workers Union, Fredrik Odiaga (Secretary) and George Odongo (Treasurer) among others.

Report by George Amolo