Tuskys employees on hunger strike over CBA breach

BY MICHAEL OLLINGA

Employees of Tuskys group of supermarkets in Eldoret have joined their counterparts nationwide on a hunger strike, to protest over the failure by their employer to implement a recently Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA).

The workers say the management of the wholesale outlets was supposed to increase their salary as per the agreed proposals in a CBA signed early November but instead it has cut on their pay with amounts ranging between Sh3000 and Sh5000.

“Our union had agreed with the supermarket management to pay a particular increments and allowances latest last month, but we were astonished to get even lesser payment when the salaries came,” a branch official for the employees told The Standard.

The official who wanted his name kept secret for fear of victimization said the CBA states that all employees to get a 10 per cent increment on basic salary while those who have worked for over 5 years to get an additional Sh500.

Another official from the supermarket’s biggest branch in Eldoret added that the CBA had introduced payment of commuter and house allowances to particular employees which have not yet been effected.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Controversy at Bomas and how SMS saved CDF Ogolla's career
• 
  Eldoret City Marathon to have a bigger 10km fun run
• 
  Experienced athletes set to face upcoming stars at Eldoret City Marathon
• 
  Eldoret City Marathon stars have gone ahead to rule global contests

He said that last month’s salary had weird deductions and when they consulted the management on the issue they were told that that was their rightful pay.

“Instead of getting an increment we have been deducted huge sums of money, the management is claiming that it has just deducted the pay of an hour that we have a lunch break,” he explained.

However both branch officials denied ever having a lunch break, saying that they have their lunch while at work where they are only allowed 15 minutes utmost.

The employees under the umbrella of the Kenya Union of Commercial Foods and Allied workers (KUCFA) said that their management is diverting away from the CBA by bringing in the issue of lunch hour deductions.

One of the employees added that their efforts to seek direction from the management have not borne fruits as their employer insists that all irregularities in their payment will be addressed in March next year.

The employees started the hunger strike on Friday and have vowed to continue until their grievances are solved.