Atwoli takes battle for tea workers' rights to UK court
Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary-General Francis Atwoli gives his speech during the Neema Institute of Science and Technology graduation ceremony in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on November 24, 2018. He wants tea firms to improve the welfare of their workers. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Atwoli said their efforts to fight their case in Kenyan labour relations courts have hit a snag following petitions by the companies.
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) will sue multinational tea companies in an international court for violating workers’ rights.
Cotu Secretary-General Francis Atwoli on Thursday said that for five years now the companies have refused to implement collective bargaining agreements with more than 300,000 members of Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union.
Addressing journalists in Mombasa, Mr Atwoli said the union has signed an agreement with Ozon Solicitors to help with the case in the United Kingdom.
“This international law firm from Manchester will work hand in hand with our lawyers to pursue this issue soon so that our workers can secure their rights, and also for these multinational companies to acknowledge us as a union,” he said.
COURT
He said the companies operating in Sotik (Bomet County), Kericho and Nandi Hills (Nandi County) have not reviewed their workers' terms of service since 2013.
Mr Atwoli said efforts by both Cotu and agricultural unions to fight their case in Kenyan labour relations courts have hit a snag following petitions by the companies.
“We have won several cases but these companies challenge them in court. They move from the high courts to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, where cases drag as workers continue to suffer,” Mr Atwoli said.
He explained that is why the union has opted to take the case abroad, adding, “We expect that action will be taken at the earliest opportunity and will be pursued vigorously there”.
