The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) has responded to claims about staff mistreatment, unfair payment, sexual harassment and a myriad of other issues raised in an anonymous expose by a local blogger.
Taking to social media on Saturday night, the organisation discredited all these allegations, tearing each claim apart and noting that a recently fired employee was behind the sensational exposé.
"The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), wishes to categorically refute the malicious and defamatory claims recently circulated on social media by an individual with ill intent to tarnish the union's reputation," part of the statement read.
The post, which was up for barely an hour before COTU replied, was written by a whistleblower who reportedly worked at the company. The whistleblower complained about unexplained salary delays over the past few months despite management taking several work trips. The complainant also raised issues with salary-biased promotions and salary increments.
However, COTU clarified these allegations, stating that there had indeed been a salary delay when one former payroll accountant attempted to manipulate the payroll to increase his salary fraudulently.
According to the statement by COTU, this individual was also believed to be behind these allegations of staff mistreatment. Reportedly, this delay was a close result of this fraudulent activity, but it was resolved once he was relieved of his duties.
COTU Secretary Francis Atwoli also criticized the allegations, noting, "Influencers like Nyakundi should confirm their facts before sharing false information."
The complainant also alleged that the staff had been forced to join an unnamed SACCO, which the employees did not know any details about. "Nobody knows where that SACCO is, who its officials are, or even its physical location — but we are still forced to be deducted," he noted.
Another allegation COTU denied was unfair and unexplained employee dismissal. The expose had listed five recently fired employees. COTU therefore listed all the reasons each one was fired including one who left to join the National Employment Authority and another who took up a role in a Tanzanian organisation closely working with COTU.
The third was a Nigerian who wanted to reunite with her family while the other one reportedly resigned for personal reasons.
The statement, however, clarified that one employee, the fraudulent accountant, had been let go due to gross negligence and glaring incompetence.
Although he had reportedly been in the organisation for four months, he had allegedly not only fudged the payroll but also altered the COTU logo.
On the most damning allegation, sexual harassment, COTU vehemently denied the claims, emphasising that it upholds the highest level of professionalism and has zero tolerance on the matter.
