Doctors in Kisumu county will tomorrow begin a strike should the county government fail to implement their Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The Kenya Medical Pharmacists and Dentists Union Nyanza branch issued a strike notice on March 15.
The notice seen by the Star says the industrial action will commence at midnight.
KMPDU Nyanza branch secretary Lameck Gisairo said the county government has prolonged the dispute by failure to convene a CBA implantation meeting.
County governments and the KMPDU signed a CBA in July 2017, which provides that every county constitute an inauguration committee to implement the CBA.
“This is because of failure, lack of commitment and willingness on the part of the county government of Kisumu as the employer to resolve the above issues," the notice addressed to Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o says.
Gisairo said the unions is still available for dialogue within the seven days notice.
Branch chairman Osuri Kevin said the union will address the media on Thursday to give further details on the labour dispute.
A meeting of union officials to discuss the CBA with the county government failed to take place.
“The KMPDU and the county government signed the CBA on July 6, 2017 and it is a sacrilegious that the county has failed to convene the CBA inaugural meeting to date,” Osuri said.
He accused the administration of playing games with them.
“We have received numerous invites to the CBA inauguration meetings, only to be cancelled with no explanation whatsoever or at times boycotted by senior county staff on embarrassingly flimsy excuses, “he said.
He said the union is ready for a far-reaching industrial action, if the county government will continue to be dishonest and casual in the way it treats its staff.
Kisumu is one of the four counties piloting the universal health coverage program of the national government.
