KBC in crisis as workers strike few days to election

A section of Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) workers today went on strike over delayed pay increase. The workers affiliated to the Communication Workers Union (COWU) are demanding implementation of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) agreed upon with management last month.

The CBA entitled them to 13.5% salary increment from July 2017. [see management’s response at the end]

The strike was a culmination of a series of talks and meeting between the state corporation and COWU officials, who had issued a strike notice on 14^th June over delayed signing of the CBA. KBC sought the intervention of the Ministry of East African Community, Labour and Social protection, which advised the parties to dialogue and seek guidance from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Treasury.

Speaking to the media during a demonsgtratin outside Broadcasting House, the KBC head-offices, COWU Secretary General Benson Okwaro said the CBA they previously had expired on 30^th June, giving way to a new CBA.

“We normally do some adjustments on salaries every two years, and the previous CBA expired in June,” Okwaro said. “In the new CBA we did agree on 13.5% salary increment and they agreed to pay us by the end of July, but it’s not there. SRC has said that we can only get the increment in four years, which means a 3% per year.”

The workers have held their ground that they will not call off the strike until the CBA is fully implemented, threatening operations at KBC just a few days to the general elections.

The KBC protesting workers also want casual employees, known internally as artists, to be employed. Photo / Francis MuliIt appears the timing of the strike was made to coincide with the critical pre-election period which would force management into implementing the pay rise. KBC employees are represented by two unions. One group is under the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), while other have opted for COWU.

On their side, KBC’s management says that they have held a series of consultative meetings with SRC and are awaiting formal communication from it before the end of next week.

“KBC is a state agency and therefore bound by all laws and rules governing state bodies. The corporation, therefore, cannot sign or implement any CBA without the approval of SRC. As soon as that is obtained the CBA will be signed forthwith,” said the Managing Director of KBC, Mr Waithaka Waihenya.

An internal memo dated 28^th July, seen by Business Today and signed by Mr Waihenya, shows that the pay increase in the CBA was agreed upon and approved by the KBC Board on 27^th July.

“Those negotiations (for the CBA) were completed last month and the Union (COWU) and the Management (KBC) came up with a mutually agreed upon document to be tabled before the KBC board,” the MD says in Memo dated 28^th July. “I am glad to inform you that at its sitting yesterday the Board approved the CBA subject to the concurrence and approval of the SRC which approves by law all salary increments of the public sector.”

• SEE ALSO: KBC loses 50 acres of land

So far the programming of its media outlets have not been affected, as employees under the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) are not involved in the strike, though hiccups are expected if the stalemate is not resolved as this comes in the most crucial moment when a lot of workforce is required during this election period.

“The corporation is doing everything possible to ensure the transmissions are not affected by this industrial action,” said Mr Waihenya.

The SRC is expected to issue its response by the end of this week. He said KBC, being a state corporation, cannot implement any CBA without direction from SRC.

KBC MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

• NEXT READ: BBC’s top presenter salary leaves Kenya media star drooling