Striking Taita medics vow to stay put untill issues addressed
Some of the striking health workers at Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi protest over a myriad of issues affecting their work. They have vowed not to return to work even after the county government remitted their August salaries. PHOTO | LUCY MKANYIKA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Knun Organising Secretary Synnette Ogola confirmed that they had received their salaries.
- The workers accused the county government of habitual failure to remit statutory deductions to financial institutions.
- The various unions representing the health workers vowed to stay put until all their grievances are solved.
Striking health workers in Taita Taveta have defied calls by the county government to return to work even after receiving their August salaries.
Acting Finance Executive Davis Mwangoma said the county government had already released the salaries to the employees to end the strike that has paralysed healthcare services in public hospitals.
He said despite the county government facing financial constraints, it had made arrangements to ensure that the arrears are remitted to the employee's accounts by Monday evening to quell tensions amongst workers.
"We are asking them to report to their work stations immediately because we have settled their salaries," he said.
RETURN TO WORK
The CEC said the delay was occasioned by late disbursement of funds from the National Treasury.
"Right now we are yet to receive funds from the Treasury. We have made local arrangements to pay them," he said.
The move comes after the health workers downed their tools last Friday following the delayed payments among other issues.
The workers accused the county government of habitual failure to remit statutory and loans deductions owed to financial institutions.
They also complained of poor working conditions and lack of drugs and other medical supplies in hospitals.
The various unions representing the workers vowed to stay put until all their grievances are resolved.
RECONCILIATION TALKS
The union officials are expected to attend a meeting with county government officials in Wundanyi today (Tuesday) for reconciliation talks that would lead to suspension of the industrial action.
The county’s Clinical Officers Union Secretary Joto Nyawa said they will only report back to work if the county government resolves all the issues raised in the strike notice.
"Our strike is not on salaries alone. In fact, the salaries are coming late. They are used to fooling us. This time round we are alert," he said.
Kenya National Union of Nurses Organising secretary Synnette Ogola confirmed that they had received their salaries.
"Some workers' accounts are still in arrears because banks swept all their monies because of defaulting on their loans," he said.
STRUGGLING
The official said some financial institutions have already blacklisted some workers for defaulting on their loans repayments due to the habitual salary delays.
"Majority of our members are struggling to make ends meet. Some are unable to pay school fees for their children," said Mr Ogola.
Private hospitals are reaping big from the strike as many residents flock them for treatment.
St Joseph Shelter of Hope and River Jordan hospitals in Voi are struggling to cope with the influx of patients who would normally use the cheaper public health service.
The managements have been forced to create more room to accommodate the overflow of patients.
