Health workers call off strike amid salary talks

Mombasa County government obtained a court order to halt the strike. [iStockphoto]

After being served with a court order, Mombasa County health workers' unions called off their strike over delayed November salaries.

The Mombasa County government obtained a court order to halt the strike, which was scheduled to start yesterday. The employer cited an ongoing dispute filed in March of this year before the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour has appointed a conciliator who will meet with leaders from the various unions and the employer in the county today (Tuesday) to discuss the grievances.

After talks with the employer broke down, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPPDU), Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya Health Professional Society (KHPS), Kenya Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KUMLO), and Kenya Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists (KUPT) called off the strike.

The unions have been demanding that the employer settle November salaries and statutory deductions.

Dr Ghalib Salim, secretary of the KMPPDU Mombasa branch, announced yesterday that the union's national team had called off the strike. "The strike has been suspended by the national team, and we have no choice but to comply," he said.

KMPPDU secretary general Dr Devji Atellah had suspended the strike to give governor Abdulswamad Nassir's administration time to pay.