Civil servants put pay strike on hold
Members of the Embakasi Branch Civil Servants Union sings a solidality song shortly after a press conference at a Nairobi hotel earlier this month. A planned strike by civil servants in connection with a salary increase has been postponed until after August 10. PHOTO/ PETERSON GITHIGA
What you need to know:
- Deal on transport and hardship allowances temporarily saves day
A planned strike by civil servants in connection with a salary increase has been postponed until after August 10.
The suspension follows a meeting between the Union of Kenya Civil Servants and government officials last Monday.
Dangerous conditions
The union’s secretary general, Mr Tom Odege, said the government had agreed to two of their demands — the commuter and hardship allowances.
He said a Sh3,000 monthly commuter allowance had been approved.
The union also said a hardship allowance for members working in difficult or dangerous conditions had been agreed.
Union and government officials will meet on August 10 to hammer out an agreement that Mr Odege hopes will include a 17 per cent pay increase for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
He told union members that the strike, which had been planned for August 5, was only “on hold” as the government was yet to agree to the 17 per cent increase.
The unionist stressed that the strike should not be ruled out yet until the government agreed to all the workers’ demands.
“I must tell you that you will be served with a dismissal letter if the strike does happen. But be assured that under the Employment Act, no civil servant can be sacked for participating in a strike,” he told members.
