KETAWU Secretary-General Ernest Nadome (centre) with his union members in show of solidarity at the Milimani Law Courts on Friday. [PHOTO/the-star.co.ke]​

Is there a story unfolding in your community? Let Hivisasa know

The Kenya Electrical Trades and Allied Workers Union (KETAWU) has threatened to issue a strike notice if Kenya Power and Lighting Company continues to derail implementation of the CBA signed on January 27.

Kenya Power earlier moved to court to bar registration of the CBA which was allegedly signed by both parties of the union and the parastatal, arguing that it will suffer a big loss if the court rule for implementation of the 'flawed' CBA.

“That implementation will involve unlawful expenditure of millions of shillings of public funds and will be irrecoverable. It may pose a challenge which is likely to lead to disconnect amongst the union staff, thereby leading to strikes and paralysis of the company,” said a statement from the company as quoted by the Star.

KPLC also alleges that the CBA will benefit just a section of the staff and leave out other employees in the managerial positions and that this will result to disharmony and disaffection among workers.

However, in their affidavit signed by KETAWU deputy Secretary-General Kosgey Kolil, KPLC had on February 27 appeared before Justice Hellen Wasilwa and agreed to register the CBA.

Kolil further says that the CBA was duly signed by union officials and KPLC  on January 27 after lengthy negotiations.

“Kenya Power and the union have already signed the CBA yet they are now purporting to disown the process by claiming that exhaustive consultations have not been made,” Kolil said.

He added that their employer’s decision to challenge the CBA was in bad faith and that KPLC filed the case through hidden facts and non-disclosure.

“In the alternative and without prejudice, KPLC ought to have sought the advice of the SRC prior to the commencement of the collective bargaining process with the union that culminated in the signing of the CBA,” Kolil says.

Justice Monica Mbaru on Friday declined to stay the orders stopping the registration of the CBA, and added that the matter will be next heard on May 10.