Dock Workers Union Gives KPA One Week Before Strike

The Dock Workers Union has given the Kenya Ports Authority management one more week to clear the air on reports that there are more planned sackings in the organisation. DWU officials were yesterday engaged in meetings in preparation to level the ground on key issues of the planned strike. The strike was scheduled to start today, after the expiry of the 21-day notice they issued on May 26.

Chairman Jeffar Kiti said the decision was reached after consultations within the union. "We decided to extend the strike date by seven days to allow us to educate the workers on what will be required of them," said Kiti.

There is a fresh wave of tension within the KPA workers' circle as circulars were distributed instructing departmental and divisional heads to spearhead restructuring of the departments. "We suspect this restructuring is an excuse to lay off some of our workers. There are also proposals sent to the Transport ministry that workers retire early. We cannot accept this," said Kiti.

The KPA management however denied that there are any plans to lay off workers. The management said the restructuring is part of efforts to ensure efficiency in service delivery.

KPA public relations manager Benard Osero said departmental heads are only finalising on what Ernst and Young Consultants, who were contracted to do the restructuring, recommended. "I want it to be clear; the restructuring has nothing to do with retrenchment. The restructuring is to update the KPA structure from how it has been since 2002 when the last restructuring was done," said Osero.

He said since 2002 a lot of changes have taken place in the business environment including automation, installation of more equipment and expansion of the yard. All these require restructuring to ensure all workers get to be placed in areas where they can best be productive. "In 2002, we did our last restructuring and nobody was retrenched. What makes them think there will be retrenchment this time round?" asked Osero.