NAIROBI – The intervention of Information and Communication PS in the standoff between KBC and its staff hit a deadlock early today after the management failed to reach a deal to stop a strike planned from February 23 this year. The staff’s wish of having a union was granted in word.
The PS, under whose docket KBC falls, had been sent by the minister to help sort out the matter but he got “the shock of his life,” according to a KBC employee who followed today’s events closely, when he was accosted by employees mourning about their hard lives at KBC.
The management is said to have told the PS that the employees were agitating to join the union for him to learn after the meeting that it was a salary and working conditions protest.
“The management had lied to him that we want to strike because we want to have a union,” said the person. The PS left the meeting held at Grey Studio, sweating and with a furious hue on his face.
“He seemed surprised by the situation. He was not expecting things were that serious,” said the person, who also supports the agitation for reforms and better pay. “Imagine he was sweating, but the meeting was very short.”
As the PS left the meeting, he was confronted by KBC staff who had smelt him around and sort to use the opportunity to pour their hearts to him. Led by chief KBC newsroom activist Vincent Lempaa, the journalists had a list of grievances they wanted addressed, but the PS declined to listen to them and promised o address them on Friday this week.
KBC managing director Waithaka Waihenya and head of radio Walter Mong’are, a.k.a. Nyambane attended the meeting. KBC staff and management hope Dr Ndemo will midwife a deal that will prevent a strike and save soaring of relations between the two parties.
Today’s meeting was a follow-up of another board meeting held on Monday January 30 to try and forestall the impending strike being fronted by journalists and technical staff.
Disgruntled KBC staff plan to down tools on February 23 to press for full-scale reforms at the state broadcaster and better pay. The staff rejected a proposal to raise salaries by Sh10,000 or 40 per cent. The major issue was initially the poor working conditions at the taxpayer-financed broadcaster.
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