KPLC workers' strike called off

Kenya Power and Lighting Company workers have called off the strike that was to start on Monday.

They took the decision on Sunday after the management agreed to give them more say in the awarding of contracts to external firms.
The move has spared Kenyans the power disruption that would have resulted had the unionisable employees down their tools.

The agreement, which was struck after negotiations facilitated by the Ministry of Labour, will see the workers having more say in awarding of contractual jobs to firms.

The agreement, struck after negotiations facilitated by the Ministry of Labour, will see the workers having more say in awarding of contractual jobs to firms.

Terms for casual and permanent workers will also also be improved.

The Kenya Electrical Trades and Allied Workers’ Union secretary general Mr Ernest Nadome said only deserving and credible firms will be awarded the contracts.

The two sides agreed to set up a five-member joint committee comprising three members from KPLC management and two from the workers' union.

“This will oversee allocation of jobs to contractors. These will be the jobs region's and subregion's capacity cannot handle,” he said.

The agreement was signed by KPLC managing director, Mr Joseph Njoroge and the company’s human resource chief manager, Mr Ben Chumo.

The 8,000 member strong union had accused the management of colluding with firms to irregularly award jobs, leaving most casual workers jobless.

Mr Nadome said the union has prepared a list of firms, some owned by current and former KPLC managers, involved in corrupt deals. They are preparing to forward the list to Kenya Anti Corruption Commission Director, PLO Lumumba, in a meeting on Monday.

Further, 1,218 one day casual workers out of the total 3,935 will be engaged on three-month contract terms immediately.

The remaining will be promoted through the annual staff reviews, with an aim of benefiting 600 workers annually, effective from July, next year.

Casual workers on three months contracts will also be entitled to maternity leave as from today, and will be allowed to resume work immediately the leave is over. The labourers will also receive allowances for working outside their stations, which will be equivalent to the lowest amount enjoyed by unionisable employees in job group 'A-B’.

Permanent workers who have stagnated in job groups, will also be considered in upcoming promotions, which according to Mr Nadome, will be based on performance.

“The process of asking for papers and holding interviews for promotions will be done away with,” he said.

According to Mr Nadome, most of the workers who had stagnated in the job groups even after working for close to 15 years belong to job group 'K’. He said negotiations will be commenced to open up job group 'L-M’.

“Analysis of the staff is underway and vacancies arising from the process will be filled through promotions within the next three months,” he said.

The union also managed to convince the management to allow charging of agency fee from employees benefiting from Collective Bargaining Agreement with effect from October 1.

The union will also be allowed to represent one day casual workers in the coming Collective Bargaing Agreements, together with responsibility allowances for top leaders and assistants.