Nurses union divided over boycott calls
What you need to know:
- The Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary-General Seth Panyako and Chairman Jophinus Musundi on Wednesday differed on the fate of the strike.
Nurses have been thrown into confusion over a planned strike following conflicting statements from union officials.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary-General Seth Panyako and Chairman Jophinus Musundi on Wednesday differed on the fate of the strike.
Whereas Mr Panyako maintained that the health workers would boycott work starting Monday, Mr Musundi dismissed the strike call, saying negotiations with the government were going on and it would be premature to take to the streets.
“You do not negotiate or sign agreements on the street. Our discussions are on course. We are committed to ensure that nurses get better terms through legal means,” said Mr Musundi in Nairobi.
He added: “There is no evidence that dialogue has failed. Rushing to the streets will cause unimaginable suffering for sick people.”
But Mr Panyako said the government had failed to address their demands even after the union gave it 81 days to act.
“We agreed on a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), but it is yet to be signed. If nothing changes, we will go on strike,” he said in Nakuru.
