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Tuskys employees down tools over salaries

By ARTHUR SITUMA December 19th, 2013 1 min read

All Tuskys supermarket branches were closed on Thursday morning after employees downed their tools to protest at management”s refusal to honour a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

There were however ugly scenes as boycotting employees ejected their colleagues who were working at the Chap Chap branch along Muindi Mbingu street.

“We have no problem with the customers but the traitors (employees still at work) who want to benefit without breaking a sweat,” said one of the employees enforcing the shutdown.

Tens of patrons especially women scrambled for the door leaving their shopping when the mob started shouting and banging on the metallic doors.

The workers then threatened to march to the T-Mall near the city stadium to enforce another shut down.

Boycotting Tuskys employees eject their colleague who were working at Chap Chap branch along Muindi Mbingu street. PHOTO | ANN KAMONI
Boycotting Tuskys employees eject their colleagues who were working at Chap Chap branch along Muindi Mbingu street. PHOTO | ANN KAMONI

The CBA was signed last month and registered the Industrial Court.

It  includes a 10% salary increment of the basic salary for the first year, which should rise to 11 % in the second year.

It also outlines remuneration for overtime and revision of the standard working hours.

Under the deal, the monthly salary of a cashier was to rise from Sh22, 000 to Sh24, 000.

The agreement is for all unionisable employees including cleaners, shop assistants, cashiers assistant supervisors and general workers.

According to Moffat Munene, a union representative, a meeting between union officials and management that was scheduled for December 17 failed to take place after the latter failed to show up.

A follow up meeting on December 18 was equally unfruitful as the management told the employees to go to court.

The timing of the boycott by the employees is crucial, coming at the height of the festive Christmas season when consumers flock the supermarkets.