Nurses threaten to call strike over unpaid dues
Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako (right) addresses the press in the past. Unions continue to urge their members in Mandera to leave until their security is guaranteed. FILE PHOTO | DENNIS LUBANGA |
What you need to know:
- The union accuses the county government of failing to engage them in talks over unpaid dues.
- The workers alleged that attempts to meet the county top leadership on several occasions in efforts to solve the issue had hit a snag.
- Dr Eunice Sirian called upon the nurses to abandon the strike threat stating that the county government is already addressing the issue.
Operations in the health sector in Uasin Gishu County are likely to be paralysed as a result of a looming industrial action by nurses.
This comes after a national trade union representing healthcare workers threatened to mobilise nurses in the county to go on strike.
The union accuses the county government of failing to engage them in talks over unpaid dues.
Medical workers in the County under the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) have given the county government of Uasin Gishu an ultimatum of two days to address their issues or else they will lay down their tools.
Led by KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako, the workers alleged that attempts to meet the county top leadership on several occasions in efforts to solve the issue had hit a snag.
ULTIMATUM
Panyako said the Union has given the county government up to Friday to decide the way forward or else he will personally mobilise all health workers in the county for a strike starting next week.
“As a Union we are really disappointed by the county government of Uasin Gishu because it is not ready to engage us in talks so that we can bring to an end this matter for once and for all.
We note that it has not paid our members their remunerations for the past two months and in case by Friday the workers will not have been paid, then this county should be ready to witness the mother of all strikes beginning the start of next week,” Panyako said.
Speaking to journalists in Eldoret on Wednesday, Panyako cautioned the national government against reducing the salaries of nurses and other health workers stating that any attempt to do that will be against international labour laws.
Speaking at the same function, Uasin Gishu County KNUN Branch Secretary General John Bii urged county governments to treat matters relating to health workers seriously.
“KNUN has registered its dissatisfaction in the way county governments in this country handle health workers. The governments which we expect to spearhead devolution do not support health workers and we therefore call upon the national government to come on board and intervene before things get out of hand,” Bii said.
THREATS AND HARASSMENT
“The mandate of the Kenya National Union of Nurses is clearly enshrined in Article 41 of the constitution and so we seek to have a cordial relationship with all the arms of the governments so that we can work together for the benefit of Kenyans instead of being issued with threats and subjected to harassment each and every time,” said KNUN national chairman Josphinas Musundi.
Contacted on phone Uasin Gishu County Executive Committee member in charge of Health Dr Eunice Sirian called upon the nurses to abandon the strike threat stating that the county government is already addressing the issue.
Dr Sirian said the county government is in talks with the health ministry to ensure the nurses are paid.
“I humbly request the health workers who are planning to go on strike not to do so as it will subject our people to a lot of suffering.
We are currently in talks with the national government in Nairobi so that the nurses can be paid as they fall under the Economic Stimulus Programme and not the county government,” Dr Sirian told Nation.co.ke Thursday.
