Nurses’ union refuses to sign return-to-work deal
Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua addresses the media on September 2, 2015 over the strike by health workers. He claimed forces outside the county were behind the three-week strike as his government had addressed all the workers’ grievances. With him is Health Executive Charles Githinji. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI |
What you need to know:
- Talks to end three-week strike collapse.
- More than 500 face the sack as governor despairs and closes door on negotiations.
Talks between nurses and hospital administrators in Nyeri to end a three-week strike collapsed on Wednesday after union bosses refused to sign a return-to-work deal.
The county’s five medical superintendents had met nurses’ unions on Tuesday with a raft of resolutions aimed at ending the strike was drafted.
Union bosses agreed to the resolutions but did not append their signatures.
The meeting followed an ultimatum by Governor Nderitu Gachagua that the more than 500 workers would be replaced if they did not resume work within 24 hours.
On Wednesday morning, Kenya National Union of Nurses chairperson Ann Nyawira did not turn up to sign the resolutions and instead sent two officials to collect the document to “allow for consultations” with members.
“The governor waited till late in the night for the leaders to come and sign the agreement,” a source close to the governor who is not authorised to talk on his behalf said.
The source indicated that the governor had despaired in engaging with the workers and had closed the door on further negotiations.
In the resolutions, it had been agreed that the county would withdraw show-cause letters written to the striking workers without victimisation.
Union officials were on Wednesday mum on the matter, with claims in some quarters that they will bow to the pressure and return to work.
They have, however, promised to attend a meeting with the Employment and Labour Relations Court on Thursday.
SALARIES BACKDATED
In Samburu County, 120 health workers received promotion letters after they threatened to go on strike on Tuesday.
County Health Administrator Gideon Obure said the salaries, backdated to January 1, 2014, would be paid at the end of this month.
In Kisumu, the county government hired 445 health staff in a desperate attempt to avert a strike set for today.
Governor Jack Ranguma said this was aimed at improving service and workers’ welfare.
“As the chairman of the Health Committee of the County Governors’ Council, Kisumu must lead by example,” he said.
Those hired include public health officers, registered clinical officers, registered nurses, community health nurses, occupational therapists and medical laboratory technologists.
Pharmacists, pharmaceutical technologists and medical engineering technologists were also among those hired.
They start work on October 1.
