[Kisii Governor James Ongwae in a past event. Nurses from his county have threatened to go on strike should Council of Governors fail to strike a deal with them. Photo/Hivisasa.com]
Nurses in Kisii County have threatened to go on strike if the national government and council of governors will not sign a pay deal by June 5.
The ultimatum follows what the Kisii County branch of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) termed an unnecessary delay in fulfilling the pay deal terms.
Led by county union secretary Moses Rianga, the union issued an ultimatum to the two levels of government, saying they wanted the collective bargaining agreement signed and deposited in court.
“We are tired of waiting for the CBA to be signed since its fulfilment is long overdue. It is high time the government took the initiative and fulfilled its part of the pay deal,” said Mr Rianga.
He expressed the county nurses’ support for the ultimatum issued by KNUN chair Mr Seth Panyako, saying they would down their tools in solidarity with other union branches nationwide.
Mr Rianga said nurses had been ‘pushed to the corner ‘by the state’s delay, saying they would strike to protest the violation of their rights as stipulated by the unsigned CBA.
“We will definitely go on strike to protest and display our dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the pay deal, including its delays and postponement of the CBA signing,” said the union official.
Treasurer Ms Jane Midogo said the nurses were not excited at the prospect of going on strike caused by thhe government dragging its feet on the CBA.
“We have decided to strike as an act of last resort due to lack of willingness on the part of our employer to decisively act and resolve the pay stalemate,” said Ms Midogo.
“Even though our action means that patients will be exposed to untold suffering and some might even die due to our absence from work, we will stay away from facilities upon expiry of the strike deadline at midnight, June 4, 2017,” he said.
Union officials also voiced their dissatisfaction with the county government’s delay in paying nurses’ salaries, saying they would no longer accept salaries to be paid later than the 15th day of every month.
“Our salaries are being unnecessarily delayed in the banks, taking ads long as three weeks into the month before being processed by banks. We will no longer accept delays in salaries, resulting in our receiving of our pay after the fifteenth day of the month,” said Mr Eric Rioba.
He accused the county administration of failure to promote some of its members despite having worked in the same pay grade for five or more years.
“We are disappointed with the fact that some of our members have stagnated in the same pay grade despite having worked in the same pay grade for five or more years. The county administration has also neglected the proper designation of nurses in their various positions and we no longer take the matter lightly,” said deputy secretary general Eric Mr Rioba.
He called on the CoG and national government to speedily sign the CBA, saying it comprehensively addressed the remuneration concerns of the nursing fraternity.
“We will not have peace and harmony in the health sector as long as the CBA, which was comprehensive and tailored to address the nurses’ grievances, remains unsigned,” he said.