Dock Workers Union boss in trouble as three plot to oust him
Dock Workers Union Secretary General Simon Sang listens to the ruling at the Industrial Court in Mombasa during the hearing of a case where a Kenya Ports Authority Worker Geoffrey Mareko had sought to have an election on August 11, 2015. Rivals plot to oust Sang during Wednesday union elections. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Sang is facing a fight of his life as his opponents accuse him of mishandling the matter.
- Opponents are accusing Mr Sang of dragging the union into unnecessary strikes.
- Mr Sang has been at pains to explain why the union leaders were sacked.
- But while defending his actions, Mr Sang said the dismissals were political, ‘as the strike was justified’.
Sacking of 28 Dock Workers Union shop stewards in August last year has returned to haunt the union’s secretary general Simon Sang as he seeks to retain his seat in Wednesday's elections for the third time.
Mr Sang is facing a fight of his life as his opponents accuse him of mishandling the matter.
Those opposing him are Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) pension scheme trustee Katana Wara, Bakari Bwetta and Abdalla Randani, a former manager at the authority. They are accusing Mr Sang of dragging the union into unnecessary strikes.
Mr Bwetta was at one time secretary of Kenya Union of Commercial Food and Allied Workers Union. A shop steward is a union member elected to represent fellow workers in negotiating with management.
Mr Sang has been at pains to explain why the union leaders were sacked. Former KPA managing director Gichiri Ndua said they were sacked for engaging in an illegal strike. Port workers went on strike to protest implementation of new National Hospital Insurance Fund rules.
The union challenged the sackings in court but lost the case.
But while defending his actions, Mr Sang said the dismissals were political, ‘as the strike was justified’.
“We gave necessary notices before we went on strike but the management decided to victimize the workers. As the boss, I have a track record that speaks for itself,” said Mr Sang.
“I am confident I will win because workers know it was politics. There has been an increase in salaries and allowances more than any other time in history in the six years I have negotiated with the management on behalf of the workers,” said Mr Sang.
SALARY HAS RISEN
Mr Michael Ondiek, Mr Sang’s supporter said his salary has risen from Sh26,000 to Sh56,000 currently.
Mr Bwetta said the union has been involved in uncalled for strikes that have spoiled the relationship between KPA and their over 6,000 members.
“The union should foster understanding between the employer and workers. There are mechanisms that should be followed before a strike is called which Sang has ignored. He uses union members to blackmail the management with no results,” he said.
Mr Martin Sitho, a member, said the protracted court battle between the union and the employer after the workers were sacked was ill conceived.
“We told our secretary general that there was no need of going to court but he did not listen. The union lost and those who were sacked are now suffering,” he said.
Mr Sitho said they want to a leader who will be sensitive to the needs of workers, accusing Mr Sang of ignoring them. “Our current secretary general is not accessible to most of us and he does not even pick our calls yet we have pressing needs,” he said.
