Cotu issues strike threat

The Central Organisation of Trade Union has issued a 21-day strike notice to the government for failure to increase the minimum wage of workers by 60 per cent.

In a letter addressed to the President through the Internal Security Permanent Secretary, Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli said that the 12.5% salary increase announced by Labour minister John Munyes on May 1 was a slap in the face of workers.

He said the the workers' body Executive Board handed over an economic paper to the government on April 7 which reflected the performance of every sector of the economy to justify the demands to increase the minimum wage by 60% and award a 10% general wage increase to all Kenyan workers.

“To our astonishment and surprise, the Labour minister on behalf of the government dismayed and disillusioned Kenyan lowly placed workers by announcing 12.5% as an increase to minimum wage during Labour Day celebrations,” said Mr Atwoli.

He added that the government has failed to respond to Cotu’s proposal that the prices of essential basic commodities like petrol, kerosene, diesel, transport and flour be reduced or have taxes on them zero rated.

Mr Atwoli said that the government has enough time to consult and revert back to the workers’ umbrella body, failure to which the the Executive Board will have no control over any resolutions reached by the Governing Council on May 21 during a meeting at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu.