In a letter dated 12 April 2018, the Kenya Union Commercial Food and Allied Workers (KUCFAW) have suspended the Tuskys employees’ strike that was supposed to begin at midnight yesterday on the grounds that the Ministry of Labour has intervened to rectify the issues raised.
Tusker Mattresses Limited and the union held a meeting on 11 April which was moderated by Ms Hellen Maneno, acting chief industrial relations officer from the Ministry of Labour, where all the issues raised in the strike notice were not completely resolved. A follow-up meeting will take place on 20 April.
Tuskys employees, who are members of the KUCFAW, had issued a 14-day strike notice via the union raising complaints such as unfair transfers of shop stewards, disciplinary transfers, unlawful threats to outsourced workers, and the failure of the management to recognise elected workers’ representatives.
“We formally urge the Ministry of Labour to formally appoint Ms Hellen Maneno or any other labour officer as a conciliator as deemed necessary with the powers to act under Section 68 or 69 of the Labour Relations Act, 2007,” Boniface Kavuvi, secretary general KUCFAW says in the letter.
The union has advised Tuskys Supermarket employees to continue working as it continues to engage the employer in resolving the complaints raised. Additionally, the union will give the employees further instructions regarding the next course of action after the 20 April meeting.
The union is also awaiting a report by Ms Hellen with recommendations arising from the meeting that was held on 11 April.
“We take this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Labour for their quick intervention to address issues raised in the strike notice. We equally thank our members for acting in solidarity with a desire to have a working environment devoid of interference, victimisation, threats, and intimidation,” the letter concludes.
