The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has issued a 30-day strike notice over what it describes as county governments reneging on the terms of a deal that led to the body shelving a strike back in July.
In a statement on their official X page, the union listed a flurry of demands it wants met within the next 30 days or else KUCO officials will rally their members back to the streets since diplomatic avenues for resolving the stalemate have failed to lead to something tangible.
At the top of the list is a demand that all counties which have not effected promotions and redesignations as initially agreed do so in the next 30 days.
“It is unfortunate that even after 99 days of strike action and clear directions from the court the Council of Governors has resulted back to the old frustrating tactics of inviting the union to negotiate with individual counties against our agreement and court directives. This is a clear breach of agreement and a sign of lack of goodwill.” the statement read in part.
A group of governors led by Governor Waiguru addressing the media after a special sitting, April 16.
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CoG
In the same vein, the union urged counties yet to provide its members with medical cover do so with immediate effect and in the meantime, cover all medical expenses incurred since September 1, 2024.
As is the norm when workers’ unions strike in Kenya, KUCO also had issues concerning their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which they demanded be negotiated centrally by the Council of Governors (COG) and concluded within the next 30 days.
The union specifically called out the Kisii County Government over alleged victimization of its members. The union wants the decision to transfer members arbitrarily be reversed.
Referring to the Raise The Wage Act (RTWA), the union demanded that all the contracts of casual and contractual employees in the county be harmonised with those serving under permanent and pensionable terms.
As for the inevitable issue of salary payments, the union demanded that the payment and deductions by third party remitters be met by the 5th of each month.
Conclusively, the union demanded that all salaries withheld following strikes in 2021 and 2024 be paid immediately and not later than October 5.
This is not the first time the union has gone on strike over unmet promises.
In May 2024, the union embarked on a 99-day strike that ended in July after they reached a return-to-work agreement with the government which they say has now been breached.
The announcement adds to a series of union strikes that have plagued the nation in the past month. The third school term for instance started with a foiled strike notice by KUPPET which was quickly followed by a strike by university lecturers’ UASU which is still ongoing.
Doctors and Civil workers have also issued strike notices.
KMPDU leaders lead a strike of doctors in Kenya.
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KMPDU
