Cotu, Pusetu locked in supremacy battle

By JAMES MBAKA and RAWLINGS OTIENO

Kenya; Questions abound on whether a second labour centre set to be launched tomorrow will bring a paradigm shift in the country’s labour industry that has been predominantly a preserve of Central of Trade Unions (Cotu).

The unveiling of the Federation of the Public Service Trade Unions of Kenya (Pusetu-K) will be officiated by Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi and attended by Cabinet Secretaries Jacob Kaimenyi (Education) and Ann Waiguru (Devolution).

The launch could open a fresh frontier in the battle for the control of the country’s working population.

Cotu, the hitherto sole and premier labour centre has already dismissed the new outfit as an amorphous caucus targeting to divide workers and consequently weaken the resolve and synergy of the bargaining power. However, Pusetu has mantained it is providing alternative representation to thousands of ignored employees.

With the scramble for the working group expected to take shape between Cotu and Pusetu, the die is already cast for a bruising confrontation between the two federations over the control of the annual Labour Day celebrations.

Daggers are drawn for the planning, organisation and moderation of the May 1 workers day, when thousands of workers converge to reflect on their working conditions, chart the way forward and push for salary hike.

But Pusetu Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya says the federation was formed to bridge the gap that has been created by Cotu. “Public sector/civil servants lack a labour centre and Pusetu has been formed to cater for the workforce, which otherwise has been left hanging  for a long time,” Dr Mukhwaya says.

Political forums

He avers that Pusetu was not brought on board to clip Cotu. He adds that Cotu has failed to objectively address the real issues affecting workers, but instead turned Labour Day celebrations into political forums, a norm that the union says it wants to reverse.

“It will not be business as usual when it comes to the celebrations. We expect to play a role as a labour centre by taking charge of this year’s celebrations given the clear mandate and huge membership the federation enjoys,” said Mukhwaya, who is also the secretary general of Kenya universities staff union.

But Cotu assitant secretary general Benson Okwaro claims they are the only labour centre with the most representation, adding that the Constitution does not evisage any of the Pusetu-K affiliates.