Civil servants. Photo/courtesy.
Civil servants across Kenya are threatening to down their tools at the end of the month if their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is not fully implemented.
The Union of Civil Servants, representing thousands of public sector workers, has accused the government of failing to honor the second phase of a salary increment promised under the CBA.
Last October, the government signed a CBA with the union, agreeing to a 7% salary increase and a house allowance for the period spanning 2021 to 2025.
This agreement, approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), was to be rolled out in two phases. However, civil servants have expressed frustration, stating that the government has not implemented the second phase of the agreement, which was due on July 1, 2024.
“If our second phase of the CBA is not implemented by the end of this month, all civil servants in the Republic of Kenya, as resolved in today’s delegates conference, will down their tools,” warned Tom Odede, Secretary General of the Union of Civil Servants.
The delay comes despite assurances made by the SRC following the withdrawal of the controversial Finance Bill 2024/2025 in July. At the time, SRC Chairperson Lyn Cherop assured the public that all contractual agreements under existing CBAs would be honored, stating that the withdrawal of the bill would not significantly impact these obligations.
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“We have engaged with the Treasury regarding funding, and it is clear that the country cannot afford the entire review as earlier proposed. However, we must also take into account any contractual obligations, and therefore, they will be engaged in the normal manner as far as Collective Bargaining negotiations are concerned,” Cherop stated during a press conference.
Despite these assurances, the Union of Civil Servants has remained firm in its stance, refusing to accept any further negotiations.
According to Odede, the CBA was already discussed, mandated, and partially implemented, leaving no room for renegotiation.
“We are not going back to the negotiation table because the CBA we are asking for was discussed, was mandated, was partly implemented. What we are demanding is rightfully ours,” Odede asserted.
As the end of the month approaches, the possibility of a nationwide strike looms large, potentially disrupting public services across the country if the government does not act to meet the union’s demands.
