Call off strike, judge tells workers

What you need to know:

  • Mr Gikonyo said that the workers’ strike has interrupted garbage collection and cleaning of the urban centres, endangering lives and health of the Nyeri residents.
  • Union Nyeri branch secretary Kameru Maina told the police that the workers had no intention of disrupting work at the county offices but were only demanding their dues.

The Industrial Court Thursday ordered striking Nyeri County Government workers to resume work by 8am Friday, pending the hearing and determination of a case on the dispute.

Judge Byrum Ongaya directed the Kenya County Government Workers Union secretary-general Roba Duba to call off the strike immediately.

He also ordered representatives of the union and county government to attend court today to get further directions on the case.
Mr Justice Ongaya made the order following an application by the county government.

Lawyer Wahome Gikonyo said the strike violated the law which requires workers to give a seven-day notice before going on strike.

The strike was uncalled for since the issues in dispute — leave, overtime and uniform arrears — are regulated by an agreement between the employer and the workers’ union.

“It does not add up why the workers are claiming the arrears which have been unpaid for 10 years. It is even contrary to the law that a worker should work for a period of two years without taking leave,” said the lawyer.

GARBAGE COLLECTION

Mr Gikonyo said that the workers’ strike has interrupted garbage collection and cleaning of the urban centres, endangering lives and health of the Nyeri residents.

County officials Wednesday backed by police tried to force workers who had camped outside the offices to resume work.

But the chief officer in charge of public administration, Ms Alice Wachira, said the workers had threatened to disrupt work at the county offices.

Nyeri Central Police Station Commander Raphael Ngaa talked to the employees urging them not to demonstrate in the streets.

Union Nyeri branch secretary Kameru Maina told the police that the workers had no intention of disrupting work at the county offices but were only demanding their dues.

The county government threatened to sack all the striking workers and recruit others if they fail to resume work by Monday next week.