Tuskys supermarket closes branches as workers demand pay rise

By Cyrus Ombati and John Muthoni

NAIROBI, KENYA: All 52 Tuskys supermarkets branches in the country were Thursday closed after employees boycotted duty to protest at management's refusal to honour Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The employees are camping outside their supermarkets with placards demanding their demands be heard. This has paralysed operations at the premises. It is not clear what their CBA signed and deposited in court entails.

But staff said the CBA includes a 10 per cent salary increment of the basic salary for the first year, which should rise to 11 per cent  in the second year.

 Tuskys is one of the largest supermarkets in the country and the strike is bad because it comes in Christmas period when shopping is usually high.

Some of the employees marched to Tuskys Chap Chap along Muindi Mbingu Street and forcefully ejected their colleagues who had refused to join the strike.

Those in Chap Chap had been working when the drama broke out forcing them to close business.

The CBA agreement is for all unionisable staff including cleaners, shop assistants, cashiers assistant supervisors and general workers.

There was no immediate word from the supermarket management.