KMTC: We have no money to pay striking workers
Kenya Medical Training College students across the country have for the fourth day in a row not been learning after a worker’s strike that has paralyzed the institution.
Staffers went on strike starting Tuesday after negotiations over implementation of a Collective Bargain Agreement signed in 2012 were unfruitful.
The college through a statement by the Director Dr Olang’o Onudi admitted that the agreement was made but remains unimplemented due to lack of funds.
“Consultations are still ongoing with the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Health and the National treasury with a view to availing funds to implement the CBA in compliance with the Court directive. These discussions are yet to be finalized,” read the statement in part.
The college management pleaded with the workers to give them more time to pursue the matter and resume services.
The workers who are under the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) have been carrying out demonstrations within the college premises and along Kenyatta Hospital road calling for the implementation of the agreement.
MOTIVATION TO WORK
They have refused to allow the management stating that all they have been given are promises dragging the implementation for months and will now not relent.
“We will continue striking until our money is paid back by the administration, let the students stay without services because we too need motivation to work,” said the Chief Shop steward Alice Njoki.
The CBA was that all workers receive an annual increase of 12 percent on their basic salary and allowances.
About 2,000 workers countrywide are set to benefit from the agreement while the employer is set to pay up arrears from October 2012, when the CBA was registered in court, amounting to Sh720 million.
A court order from the industrial court before Lady Justice Maureen Onyango on November 25 2014 stated that the CBA was valid and should be implemented within 30 days.
The court also granted the workers the right to enforce the implementation by any lawful mean available.