COTU boss Francis Atwoli. He has defended union officials who have other posts like elected positions. [Photo/Star]
Central Organization of Trade Unions boss Francis Atwoli has moved to court to stop Labor CS Phyllis Kandie's gazette notice on trade union officials.
Cotu, through the organization’s lawyers, wants the courts to quash Kandie’s notice, which seeks to kick out officials holding political positions.
In a statement from the United Kingdom, he wants the case filed under urgency and urged all officials holding such positions not to move an inch.
“Cotu will not sit in any meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and/or her agents. Once the secretary general is back from the United Kingdom he will mobilize the entire Kenyan workforce with a view to protecting their constitutionally given constituency and representation in Parliament by their elected leaders,” he said.
“Where was the Cabinet secretary then to issue such orders for them to vacate office? What has changed all of a sudden to warrant such orders?” the Cotu boss questioned.
The Ministry of Labour through the CS, in a special gazette notice on December 13 directed that all officials, among them tow governors should relinquish their positions.
The storm is said to have been kicked by KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion, who is a nominated MP by the ODM Party.
On Thursday, a delegates’ annual meeting in Mombasa turned chaotic, with delegates from the Central region calling for Sossion to step aside.