Posta Kenya workers have downed their tools to protest the non-payment of their salaries and the non-remittance of statutory deductions by their employer for the last six months.
The Central Region branch Secretary, the Communication Workers Union of Kenya (COWU), Solomon Shikanda, has said that the workers will continue to paralyse all operations at the Postal Corporation of Kenya until such a time that their salary arrears are paid in full.
“We have exhausted all avenues, including dialogue but none of them seem to be working. Even after performing our work diligently, we are still not getting paid and so we have said enough is enough. We have decided to put down our tools until our salaries are paid in full,” said Shikanda.
The strike comes after the expiration of a strike issued by the Communication Workers Union more than a month ago asking the government to settle the Sh 1.5 billion debt owed to workers. Last week COWU Secretary General Benson Okwaro gave the government until October 26 to settle the arrears, failure to which they would down their tools starting October 27.
Shikanda said the continued salary delay had exposed the Posta workers to untold suffering, with some being reported to be suffering from stress and depression.
“It is not easy for anyone to remain afloat without a salary under the current harsh economic times. We have taken up debts everywhere and our debtors are running out of patience with us. Rent for our staff is in arrears, feeding ourselves is a challenge, and those of us with children in universities have been forced to ask them to defer their studies,” he said.
The Central Region branch Secretary said the workers are ready to call off the strike once their grievances have been addressed by the corporation. He is now asking the government to follow up on debts owed to the corporation by other government agencies in order to clear their salary arrears.
“Huduma Centre owes us Sh 1.6 billion in rent arrears dating back to 2013. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission also owes us some Sh 400 million for transporting election material during the 2022 general elections. If you sum up the two debts, that money is enough to clear our salary arrears and to pay our salaries for another year,” said Shikanda.
“We are just fighting for our salaries. We are not even demanding a pay rise and according to labour laws, these are basic rights,” he added.
By Wangari Mwangi
