800,000 tea staff may lose jobs in strike

The ongoing standoff between tea firms and pickers over introduction of plucking machines may have far-reaching effects on the welfare of more than 800,000 work force in the industry.

Many are being declared redundant as the management continues to make use of machines.

Multinational firms are adamant over the use of machines.

But trade unionists representing workers led by the Central Organisation of Trade Union (Cotu) secretary-general, Mr Francis Atwoli, on the other hand, have vowed to ensure that it will not be work as usual in these companies unless the machines are withdrawn.

Kenya Plantation Agricultural Workers Union and Cotu called the strike two weeks ago, resulting in a number of pluckers in Nandi District burnt by the protesters.

The management of these companies has employed various tactics to ensure the strike is nipped in the bud before it paralyses their operations.

Some of the tactics are evicting striking staff from company houses and disconnecting water and electricity.

The companies through the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) also obtained a court order barring their employees from striking.

However, Mr Atwoli and KPAWU assistant secretary-general Henry Omasire says a court order they got from the Industrial Court overruled an earlier one by the KFE on behalf of the companies.

Police security

Meanwhile, tea firms have been given round-the-clock police protection after striking tea pickers vowed to set on fire tea plucking machines in Nandi.

The armed officers were manning key roads leading to Tindiret and Kapchorwa tea estates in Nandi East.

Tension was high on Thursday as hundreds of workers threatened to invade the tea estates.

More than 10,000 tea pickers have been replaced by the machines and the strikers also want to flush out the few new employees hired to use the machines.

Kenya Plantation and Agriculture Workers Union national treasurer Joshua Oyuga accused Tindiret tea firms of plucking 60 per cent of their green leaf using the machines, replacing more than 800 tea pickers.

“The union does not recognise the machines,” he said

Mr Oyuga on Thursday distributed food worth Sh400,000 to striking workers and asked the firms to allow sick workers to access health centres.

Eastern Produce director Joseph Lagat said the plucking machines had reduced costs and that Kenya could not afford to be left behind in embracing the technology.

“Even small-scale tea farmers are also using machines which are economical,” Mr Lagat said.

Tea farmer Paul Mugun accused the union of making unrealistic demands. He welcomed the use of the machines.