The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has sacked 28 union officials for participating in a strike protesting the new National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) rates.
The authority’s management further directed heads of departments to take a roll call and identify employees who boycotted work over the past three days in readiness for a recruitment exercise schedule for tomorrow July 4, Business Daily reports.
In press a notice issued on Friday, KPA called on qualified individuals to turn up at Bandari college on Saturday July 5 for “recruitment and immediate placement” to work at the port as terminal tractor drivers, forklift operators and port clerks among other postings.
The union officials were issued with the letters directing them to return all KPA property and vacate KPA’s residential houses within 48 hours. Those sacked include shop stewards and members of the executive board.
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Citing section K4(c) of the KPA disciplinary Handbook 2015, general manager Human Resource and Administration Salim Chingabwi said:
“It is noted that on 1st and 2nd of July 2015, you participated in an illegal industrial strike which resulted in stoppage of work. You are aware that the services provided by this port are essential to this country’s economy and other economies within East and Central Africa. Your actions therefore amount to economic sabotage.”
“In view of the seriousness of the offence, you are hereby summarily dismissed from the services of the authority with immediate effect.”
This is the first time the authority is sacking employees for participating in a strike and battle lines seemed to have been drawn between management and the 6,000-member strong union which has reacted angrily to KPA’s statement.
Dock Workers secretary general Simon Sang said the letters were null and void, adding that their strike was legal. “There is no way the management can purport to sack our officials. This is a big joke and they have made the gravest mistake ever. We are going to fight this to the bitter end and even if it means going to international courts we will do so,” he said at a press conference at the union headquarters.
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