- This is after some counties failed to honour the Return to Work agreement signed on July 8 which saw them suspend their 99 days strike.
- The clinicians went on strike on April 1 over a number of issues which include lack of comprehensive medical cover
Image: LEAH MUKANGAI
Clinical officers have threatened to down their tools for the second time this year.
This is after some counties failed to honour the Return to Work agreement signed on July 8 which saw them suspend their 99 days strike.
The clinicians went on strike on April 1 over a number of issues which include lack of comprehensive medical cover, promotions, re-designations and their stalled Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers SG George Gibore and chairperson Peterson Wachira now say that despite suspending the strike, many counties are yet to hour the agreement.
Gibore said the Council of Governors wants the clinicians to negotiate with individual counties, against the agreement that the CBA be negotiated centrally.
"Many counties are yet to effect promotions and redesignations, procure medical cover, harmonise terms of service while others have continuously victimised our members through arbitrary transfers," Gibore said.
The union said that Kajiado, Nyeri, Murang'a, Kisumu and Busia are the only counties that have honoured the agreement on promotions.
Nyeri, Nandi and Kisumu have re-designated while Tharaka Nithi, Nyeri, Isiolo, Murang'a, Vihiga, Tana River and Busia have been able to harmonise terms of service of clinicians.
Isiolo, Laikipia, Embu, Tana River and Kericho have been able to provide comprehensive medical cover.
The union is now giving the counties 30 days to conclude on promotions and re-designations.
Image: LEAH MUKANGAI
They further want all counties to ensure members have comprehensive medical cover by October 1 and reimburse all medical expenses incurred by the members since September 1.
"The CBA must be negotiated centrally under the Council of Governors as agreed and concluded within the next 30 days," Gibore said.
Similarly, they want all casual and contractual terms under county governments harmonised with those on permanent and pensionable within 30 days as agreed in the return to work agreement.
They also want salaries and remittances of third-party deductions done by every fifth and all withheld salaries from the strikes of 2021 and 2024 paid before October 5.
"Failure to heed to our demands, the union shall have no option but resort to strike action since all the avenues have already been exhausted," Wachira said.
As per the Return to Work Formula (RTWF) between the Council of Governors (CoG) and the union, employers were supposed to commence negotiating a CBA and conclude it in 60 days from the date of the execution of the RTWF.
The RTWF further says county governments that have not promoted and re-designated clinical officers to commence the process in accordance with the prevailing public service guidelines and policies within one month and complete the same by September 1, 2024.
"It is unfortunate that after the timelines that we set elapsed most of the county governments have not implemented the return to work agreement," Wachira said.
The county governments are also required to replace officers who have exited service due to natural attrition and recruit clinical officers annually based on the availability of resources and informed by staffing norms and staff establishments.
The proposed risk allowance shall be negotiated and paid upon approval by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, the document reads.