Strike notice: 10 issues clinicians want addressed before Monday

The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers says it has since written to various government officials

In Summary
  • The union wants SRC to approve career progression guidelines for clinical officers personnel with immediate effect.
  • In addition, the union wants counties with withheld salaries to settle the payments with immediate effect.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers secretary general George Gibore
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers secretary general George Gibore
Image: FILE

Clinicians have given the government until Monday to resolve several issues raised failure to which they will down their tools.

The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers says it has since written to various government officials

They say they have also been directed the same to the CSs for Treasury, Labour and Public Service, Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru as well as the chairperson on the CoG labour committee.

The letter dated March 25 and stamped to have been received by the various government offices has also been copied to the chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Salaries and Remuneration Commission, county secretaries, county public service boards and all KUCO branch secretaries.

The union wants the Ministry of Health and CoG to finalise the Collective Bargaining Agreement which was initiated in 2017 but has since stalled despite various court orders.

They also want the ministry to immediately implement the payment of an enhanced risk allowance of Sh15,000 pursuant to a Return to work agreement signed on January 1, 2021.

“That the employer (national and counties) to recruit over 20,000 unemployed and qualified clinical officers to cover the existing shortage,” KUCO secretary general George Gibore said.

They are also demanding that the national and county governments issue confirmation letters on permanent and pensionable terms to UHC staff hired during the Covid period, national TB Programme clinicians and all members currently on contractual terms.

The union further demands that the government provides comprehensive medical cover for all actively serving clinical officers in the public sector to enable them to access services wherever they need them.

“The Ministry of Health pays clinical officers interns (Diploma and Degree) as per the approved internship staff establishment by the SRC,” Gibore said.

The union also wants SRC to approve career progression guidelines for clinical officers personnel with immediate effect.

In addition, the union wants counties with withheld salaries to settle the payments with immediate effect.

“Failure to fully address the aforementioned grievances, the strike will commence on Monday as resolved by the KUCO Advisory Council meeting held on March 24.

Gibore however noted that the union is open for constructive dialogue with the government should they be called upon.

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