County, nurses' union in Taita Taveta sign deal to avoid strike

The nurses’ union and the county government have reached an agreement on the outstanding disputes between them, hence averting a strike that was scheduled to start today.

They signed an agreement suspending the strike in Wundanyi yesterday after lengthy negotiations.

“By signing this agreement the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) hereby suspends the strike till December 7, 2015 by which time the union will take any action that it deems appropriate within the law in the event that the county government will not have implemented this agreement,” the agreement partly read.

It was, however, a big win for the nurses as the county administration agreed to address pertinent issues affecting them. According to the agreement, salary arrears would be backdated to January 2014 and paid by the end of this month.

The county administration agreed to implement the house allowance increment as per the national Treasury circular Ref. No. 22 44/122/05 (10) dated February 12, 2015 in three phases as from July 1 this year and to be effected in this month.

The KNUN had threatened to call a strike if the county government failed to address pertinent issues affecting them. The union gave the county administration 14 days to resolve their issues or else face industrial action.

The strike notice dated September 7 this year and signed by KNUN General Secretary Seth Panyako had been copied to the Secretary, County Public Service Board, County Secretary and Chief Officer of Health and Labour Cabinet Secretary.

The nurses were demanding, among other issues, an escort allowance during transfer of patients and hardship allowances.

“It has been reported by the KNUN Taita Taveta branch leadership that the issues still remain unresolved even after all efforts to have them amicably sorted were tried,” the strike notice obtained by The Standard partly read. The notice said the county administration had failed to ensure promotions and re-designation of qualified officers and payment of their resultant arrears.

Other pending issues include the implementation of a new scheme of service for nurses, employment of 85 nurses allocated to the county in 2013. The nurses said the administration has also failed to ensure sufficient supply of drugs and other requirements to heath facilities.

Periodic shortage

To ensure availability of sufficient supplies to health facilities, the health department agreed to come up with a buffer stock to address periodic shortage of medical supplies.

Other demands include the purchase of fully equipped ambulances and construction of a modern theatre at Voi County Referral Hospital.

The nurses warned that upon expiry of the strike notice, health workers shall commence the strike until their demands are addressed.

“The union will, however, remain open to dialogue in the interim period between September 7, up to and including September 20,” the strike notice read in part.

During a day-long meeting in Voi town yesterday, the two parties agreed to give dialogue a chance to avert disruption of health services in the region.

At the same time, the parties came up with a legal framework for resolving the industrial dispute and ensure uninterrupted service delivery in all health facilities.

County Secretary Joseph Meso, Health Executive Gifton Mkaya and the County Public Service Board (CPSB) Chairperson Tangai Ngoma and Mr Panyako, representing the nurses, signed the agreement.

Under the MoU seen by The Standard, the CPSB agreed to issue promotion letters to 65 health workers already promoted and re-designation of qualified officers and payment of their resultant arrears.

The county government agreed to implement the new house allowances and the new scheme of service for nurses. Creation of the position of the Director of Nursing Services was among the issues agreed upon, the agreement partly read.

The county administration further agreed to hire nurses in phases subject to availability of funds, but an initial number of 30 nurses would be employed within the second quarter of this financial year. The county government also agreed to ensure hiring of health workers is done proportionately across all cadres.

“Both parties should consult further with the constitutional organs mandated to give guidance on public servants emoluments and hardship allowances,” the agreement read.