The Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) has accused the Sarah Serem-led Salaries Remunerations Commission (SRC) of being a stumbling block to the implementation of their Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The union, however, vowed to soldier on despite threats by the Council of Governors(CoG) to stop subscription fees to it and frustrations from the “biased” SRC.
Addressing the hundreds of nurse who held demonstration in the streets of Nairobi to press for the implementation of the CBA, Knun secretary general Seth Panyako said it was unjustifiable for the SRC to dent the nurses their due and yet it was able to approve the teachers and doctors perks.
The defiant nurses from the counties, who had gathered in the city, accused the governor of trying to intimidate them to call off the strike, but vowed to press on until their demands are met.
The strike, which has paralysed public health services, has caused untold suffering to ordinary citizens biting into its third week with the nurses accusing SRC of “having double” standards and discriminating against the union.
“This is to affirm that the ongoing strike is here to stay and no amount of intimidation, blackmailing, hoodwinking will diffuse the resolve by nurses to push for the signing of their negotiated and agreed CBA by both levels of government,” said Panyako.
He also further demanded to know why the allowance awarded to doctors cannot be awarded to nurses.
“The doctors were awarded 400 per cent increase during the return to work formula hence the reason why this is outright double standards and unfair labour practices,” added Panyako.
Demanding for the immediate sack of the SRC boss, the union further demanded an explanation to why the payment of nursing service allowance of Sh 20,000 and 15,000 for job group G-L and M was withdrawn in February without explanation to the union.
