Health unions have maintained that their strike expected to start on July 14 is still on unless the government adheres to their demands.
The unions had on May 15 issued a 60 days strike notice to the Ministry of Health and county governments regarding unconcluded CBAs and recognition agreements.
They include the Kenya National Union of Nurses, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KMUMLO) and the Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists and Officers.
Others include the Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians (KUNAD) and the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union.
In a joint statement, they noted that despite the notice coming to an end, they are yet to receive feedback from the government on when the CBAs will be finalized.
“We also note that this unresponsiveness has been the norm and great saboteur to harmonious working relationships between unions, ministry and counties,” they said.
“We, therefore, wish to reaffirm that the strike notice elapsing on midnight of July 13 remains in force. All branch officials and members to prepare for the strike starting the midnight of July 2023,” the joint statement reads.
The unions last month wrote to various stakeholders notifying them of their decision to go on strike should their grievances remain unresolved in 60 days.
In a letter seen by the Star and stamped as having been received by the Council of Governors, the unions jointly wrote to the CoG chair Anne Waiguru, CEO Mary Mwiti and CoG health committee chair Muthomi Njuki, Health CS Susan Wafula and CoG Labour committee chair Johnson Sakaja.
Also copied in the letter are the labour CS, all county governors and all branch secretaries for the respective unions.
“The ministry and county governments should immediately resume negotiations and register CBAs within the next 60 days failure to conclude and register these CBAs by July 13, 2023, the unions shall proceed on strike without further notice,” they said.
Key issue of contention is the conclusion of CBAs for nurses and the clinicians and formulation and signing of recognition agreements for KMUMLO, KUNAD and KNUPT.
