The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) on Thursday gave the government a one week extension to submit a counter proposal on how it wishes to harmonize the nurses’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), a day after its expected registration with the Court.
The union has threatened to direct its members to hold an industrial action beginning March 13 if the government does not submit a harmonized counter proposal as agreed.
Following a meeting between the union and the two levels of government in Mombasa on February 27 and 28, KNUN officials yesterday reported to the media that both parties agreed on all non-monetary issues.
However they also stated that despite the government providing its proposals on some allowances verbally, it did not have a counter proposal against the union’s demands on harmonized conditions for nurses.
Knun General Secretary Seth Panyako accused the government of laxity and lack of seriousness towards workers after being given 60 days to present a proposal.
“The government is to blame for all the workers’ strikes taking place in the country because of its laxity towards serious issues and loss of negotiation spirit. What can it really do in 14 days it has requested that it couldn’t in the 60 days it was offered at fist,” said Panyako.
The collective negotiation was commenced based on the CBA between the union and the two levels of government on December 14, 2016 after nurses ended a two-week strike that had paralyzed operations in hospitals.
The agreement stated that both parties were to conclude the negotiation, signing and registration of the CBA in Court before March 2.
