Tea workers to down tools in pay increment dispute

Tea workers in South Rift have threatened to go on strike over a pay increment dispute. The over 20,000 tea pickers working for multinational tea companies under the Kenya Tea Growers Association (KTGA) have reacted angrily to the association’s memo which indicated that it was going to effect five per cent of the 30 per cent pay increment awarded by the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

Kenya Plantations and Agricultural Workers Union wants the full increment awarded. The tea farms to be affected include James Finlays, Williamson, Kapchorua and Kipkebe.