Cotu’s wings clipped as new union registered

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

A showdown of trade unions looms after the Government registered another umbrella body to represent all public servants.

This means Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) may have its wings clipped if some of its members subscribe to the new union.

The Confederation of Public Servants Trade Union (Pusetu) received its registration certificate from the Ministry of Labour on Tuesday and immediately demanded representation in major institutions.

They cited the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, the National Labour Centre and the International Labour Organisation.

Currently, only Cotu has representation in these organisations but Pusetu has indicated its intention to be allocated their slots.

This means that Cotu, under Francis Atwoli, may lose some of the seats in the said organisations because Pusetu claims it does not represent public servants.

Effective representation

“Public workers have been represented by people who do not even know what happens in public service. Starting today this union will coordinate all activities of public servants and effectively represent them,” said Xavier Nyamu, the Interim Deputy Secretary General.

Knut national chairman Wilson Sossion, who is not an official in the union, said it is wrong for Cotu to represent public servants in the Salaries Review Commission.

“According to the new Constitution this in itself is a sure way for industrial unrest,” he said.

He however said Pusetu was not at war with Cotu and said they would work together.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, the University Academic Staff Union, the Union of Civil Servants of Kenya and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals & Allied Workers have already joined the membership. The doctors and nurses unions are also expected to join next week.

David Okuta Osiany is the Interim Secretary General of the union. The national chairman is the current Secretary General of Union of Civil Servants, Tom Odege while former Kuppet secretary general Njeru Kanyamba is the Interim National Treasurer who said Kuppet is fully represented by him in the union.  The current Kuppet leadership were not represented at all.