Posta Kenya workers have downed their tools to protest the non-payment of their salaries and the failure by their employer to remit statutory deductions for the past six months.
The Central Region Branch Secretary of the Communication Workers Union of Kenya (COWU), Solomon Shikanda, said the workers will continue to paralyze all operations at the Postal Corporation of Kenya until their salary arrears are paid in full.
“We have exhausted all avenues, including dialogue, but none seem to be working. Even after performing our duties diligently, we are still not getting paid, and so we have said enough is enough. We have decided to down our tools until our salaries are paid in full,” said Shikanda.
The strike follows the expiry of a strike notice issued by the Communication Workers Union over a month ago, demanding that the government settle the Sh1.5 billion debt owed to workers. Last week, COWU Secretary General Benson Okwaro gave the government until October 26 to clear the arrears, failure to which members would strike starting October 27.
Shikanda said the continued salary delays have subjected Posta Kenya employees to untold suffering, with some reportedly suffering from stress and depression.
“It is not easy for anyone to remain afloat without a salary under the current harsh economic conditions. We have taken debts everywhere, and our creditors are running out of patience. 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 Branch Secretary added that workers are ready to call off the strike once their grievances are addressed by the Corporation. He urged the government to follow up on debts owed to the Corporation by other government agencies to help clear salary arrears.
“Huduma Centre owes us Sh1.6 billion in rent arrears dating back to 2013. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission also owes us Sh400 million for transporting election materials during the 2022 General Election. If you add up those debts, that money is enough to clear our salary arrears and 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 our basic rights,” he added.
– By Wangari Mwangi
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