Nurses have once again threatened to down their tools if the government and the counties will not pay them their dues. [Photo/EbruTV]
The Kenya National Union of Nurses has issued a 14-day ultimatum to county governments to have their CBAs signed and registered in court failure to which they will proceed with the industrial action and go on strike.
The union’s secretary general Seth Panyako has further called on 13 counties which have not paid nurses their salaries and allowances to do so by end of business on Thursday.
He further directed members of the union in those counties to hold demonstrations at the county offices until they receive their salaries.
The union has also promised to protect workers who have been locked out of the St Mary’s Hospital in Nairobi and urged the nurses to join the union.
“We want to report that out of 47 counties, 13 have not honored the return to work formula. These are Bungoma, Nakuru, Nyeri, Tharaka Nithi, Homa Bay, Elgeyo Marakwet, Makueni, Kakamega, Wajir, Laikipia, Kirinyaga, Murang’a and Kericho county governments,” he said while addressing the press.
“We want to state categorically that the Kenya National Union of nurses has issued a notice to the defaulting employers to pay the outstanding allowances and in any case not later than close of business today,” he added.
The nurses have time and again downed their tools over unpaid salaries and allowances.