COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli on Saturday warned Members of Parliament against amending the Labour Relations Act 2017 that seeks to curb workers' strike in essential jobs.
Atwoli noted that the bill proposed by Garissa Township MP Aden Duale was in bad faith and vowed to file a petition in court against the move.
"Strike is in the bill of rights you cannot change it, you can only do away with it through a referendum and therefore workers rights must be respected,” he stated.
[caption caption="File image of COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli"]
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Speaking at a meeting with union officials ahead of the Labour Day celebrations, Atwoli added: "We must protect strikes because it helps workers to agitate for their rights. MPs should not try to pass that amendment."
The proposed amendment also wants unions to indicate the type of services that must continue during strike action and how the services will be provided.
Those targeted are doctors, nurses, clinical officers, air traffic controllers, sanitation workers, meteorologists, marine and port navigational workers, electricity service workers and telecommunication service workers.
The move is seen as seeking to curb the increased industrial action across the country.
While Section 41(2) of the Constitution protects the right of workers to go on strike, Section 43 gives Kenyans the right to economic and social rights such as the right to healthcare services.
Atwoli also renewed calls for police officers to have a trade union to advocate for their welfare.
He further expressed that he will not tire of pushing for the establishment of the union claiming that police officers suffer in silence due to lack of a platform to voice the difficulties they face in their work.
“It is time for our police officers to have a union where they can air their grievances because they have been neglected for too long,” exclaimed Atwoli, vowing to take up the matter with higher authorities at Police Headquarters and at the Interior Ministry.
[caption caption="File image of COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli together with union officials"]
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