Acting Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia reverses sacking of Kenya Ports Authority workers

Dockworkers Union Secretary General Simon Sang (third left) in solidarity with some Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) unionisable workers sing after KPA issued them with summary dismissal letters. [PHOTO: GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD]

Mombasa, Kenya: Acting Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has annulled the decision by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) management hours after the firm sacked over 100 employees for participating in a strike over new medical cover rates.

Among those who had received dismissal letters are 28 Dock Workers Union (DWU) officials KPA says were the “hotheads” of the three-day strike that paralysed port operations.

Yesterday, port operations were slowly turning to normalcy with KPA confirming that by last evening 70 per cent of staff had resumed work.

“Operations ave returned to normal following the overwhelming turn-out of staff at their respective places of work this morning,” KPA stated in a statement.

KPA reiterated that it will take “firm disciplinary action” against the organizers of the strike and go on with the recruitment exercise today to fill the position of the employees who had not resumed work by yesterday.

“Qualified terminal tractor drivers, Forklift Operators, Top loader operators, Winch operators, Port clerks and Coxswain have been invited for oral and practical interviews, at KPA Bandari College, Mombasa tomorrow (today) Saturday 4th July 8 am,” said KPA, adding that A roll call is currently being undertaken to determine the actual number of vacancies.

The port’s unionised employees began the strike on Monday in response to a call by their umbrella union Trade Union Congress (TUC) which has opposed the new medical cover rates terming them exploitative and unilateral. Yesterday, KPA Human Resource and Administration General Manager Salim Chingambi termed the strike illegal and an “economic sabotage”.

DWU Secretary General Simon sang said only 25 employees had so far received their sacking letters but added that many more had also received text messages asking them to collect the letters.

He termed KPA’s plans to hire new staff “intimidation and efforts by the management to hide its failures.”

Sang said the strike was legal and threatened to mobilise the public to mass action on Monday.

“The issue has been mishandled by the management. I believe it should not have escalated to this level. But we tell the government to prepare for a proper strike and mass action starting Monday,” said Sang.

He admitted that most of the employee had been intimidated and returned to work but said he expected other Trade Union Congress-Kenya (TUC-K) to join the strike by Tuesday next week.

“All the 20 executive board members of the union have been issued with the letter and senior shop-steward and other members received a text to collect their letters. In the morning we were barred from getting into the port,” said Ms Mary Munala, a Senior Supervisor at the Conventional cargo section.

Ms Munala said that she received the text to collect here letter but “I fear if I get the letter I may be evicted after the lapse of 48 hour notice.”

The withdrawal of labour effected all departments and caused a horrendous traffic snarl-up on both sides of the highway stretching several kilometres beginning in Changamwe to the port.