Health workers in Embu county have called off their strike after the court declared the industrial action illegal.
The health workers’ unions announced the suspension of the strike that has paralysed health services in Embu for the last 19 days after an order issued by Justice Njagi Marete of Employment and Labour Relations Court.
The medics were protesting the failure of the Embu county government to implement the workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The affected unions include the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory officers (KNUMLO), Kenya National Union of Nutritionist and Dietetics (KUNAD), Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists (KNUPT) and Kenya Union of Domestic Hotel Educational and Institutions and Allied Workers (Kudheiha).
While reading the order, Justice Njagi said that the strike was illegal and in contravention of the Law. “Industrial action notice 6/6/2022 be and is hereby suspended pending hearing and determination of the application. That any strike action if at all ceases,” reads the court order.
While addressing the press after receiving the court order, Joseph Ngwasi, the chairman of KNUN said they respected the decision of the court noting that the county had not addressed their grievances.
“We have obeyed the court order, however, we shall use other means to ensure what made us go on strike is addressed, our health workers will go back to work immediately so that they can continue serving the locals,” said the Chairman.
He urged members of the public to start visiting the public facilities for medical services.
In their strike notice, the workers cited the lack of drugs in the county’s health facilities.
Ngwasi also claimed that statutory deductions including NHIF contributions were not being remitted to the relevant authorities.
Locals in the county have for the last three weeks suffered following the strike that paralysed service delivery in all the public hospitals.
The sick had to seek medical services from private hospitals that they said were extremely expensive.
