POSTAL STRIKE IN KENYA

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZUBgEpIeTs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Striking Posta workers demand Ali's removal

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/106 ... 1hadr9z/-/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


The countrywide Postal Corporation of Kenya workers’ strike begun in Kisumu with the employees demanding the removal of their boss Major General Hussein Ali.

Led by Ismael Noo, the deputy general secretary of Communication Workers Union of Kenya, the workers said the Post Master General lacked management skills and has frustrated their efforts to get a pay raise.

“According to the employees’ agreement, we should have a salary review after every two years but nothing has happened since he took over,” said Mr Noo.

He said the union had resorted to industrial action to put pressure on management after talks between them and the Ministry of Labour failed to resolve the stalemate.

Mr Noo added that their collective agreement expired last December, and a meeting held with the management on 17th and 18th November did not bear fruit as the management only offered to give a two percent salary increase.

The workers are demanding a 50 pc raise and a review of their house and commuter allowances.

They are also demanding promotions for long serving employees.

“Some of the employees joined the corporation as secretaries in 1976 and have not been promoted ever since. The management only brings other people to take the posts,” said Mr Noo.

Everything was grounded at the Kisumu General Post Office as the workers held their meeting at the parking bay, forcing management to leave their offices and serve customers.

Low key operations were recorded in post offices in Nyanza, Western and South Rift.

In Nairobi, the usually busy headquarters at Teleposta Towers was deserted.

Several customers, who were unaware of the strike lined up at the counters hoping to served. The sorting section behind the counters was left unattended and letters were strewn all over. Mailing services and the courier service were affected by the strike.

Various clients expressed displeasure and anger at the lack of service, arguing that they should have been informed of the impending strike.

Mr Thomas Nyambane had travelled a long way to come and collect registered letters and could not understand why there was no service.

"I have stood here for over thirty minutes. There are some very important letters I have to pick today. This is very annoying,” he said.

The corporate communications manager Mr Gichuki Kabukuru said the strike had been organised in bad taste and was against the spirit of negotiation. He estimated the loss occasioned by the strike to run into hundred of thousands.

"This strike according to the law is illegal. We had the case in the industrial court and already we have received an injunction against the strike that began today. We will serve COWU officials with the order,” he said.

Justice Isaac Mukunya signed an injunction Tuesday morning ordering that no staff of the corporation, whether or not members of CUWO were to engage in any strike or make any demands or threats to the corporation for the next two weeks.

The case filed by the PCK is set to be heard on December 8 this year.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The workers are demanding a 50 pc raise and a review of their house and commuter allowances.

Right a Communication's Union with chutzpah - where can we sign up

[stokes11eg]

I'd rather have her speak up for me as opposed to Big B. -----------------