Cotu directs trade unions to seek higher pay from employers

Central Organisation of Trade Union (Cotu) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli. FILE PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

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By OUMA WANZALA
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Trade unions are now demanding increase in salaries for workers to cushion them against increasing cost of living and more taxes set to be imposed by the government.

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) has directed its 42 affiliated unions to immediately write to their employers seeking a review of the existing collective bargaining agreements (CBA).

Secretary-general Francis Atwoli said the decision had been arrived at owing to the decision by the government to increase taxes on essential commodities in a bid to raise more revenue.

“The current hard economic times have badly hit workers, who are now unable to afford essential commodities like foodstuffs, rent, transport to work, medical cover, fees for their children,” he said.

Mr Atwoli said the review of the all existing CBAs before their expiry period would enable workers to manage the increased cost of living and access their basic needs.

He called on the government to support the initiative.

BRIGHTER FUTURE

The Cotu boss observed that when the Jubilee government came to power, it promised Kenyan workers a brighter future and an improved economy.

“The situation is increasingly growing from bad to worse, with news of stolen billions and a government determined to raid workers pockets, further making headlines in our local media,” he said.

He went on: “As workers, we are at pain to understand how as a country we find ourselves in this situation with the government that promised to improve the economy.”

The secretary-general asked the government not to renege on its primary responsibility of protecting the vulnerable groups and lowly placed workers.

Mr Atwoli said the handling of workers by the Jubilee government would determine the outcome of the 2017 elections.

The Exercise Duty Bill 2015, which is set to be assented to by President Uhuru Kenyatta, will increase taxes on several items.

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich has acknowledged that the government is facing a cash crunch, with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) failing to meet its tax collection targets.