Warehouse workers strike, demand for better remuneration

Mombasa, Monday June 12, 2023

KNA by Sadik Hassan/ Wangari Mwangi

Casual warehouse loaders in Shimanzi, Mombasa paralyzed operations Monday for hours, demanding for higher wages and better working conditions from their employers.

The loaders are pivotal in loading and offloading import and export cargo from the adjacent Port of Mombasa.

Patrick Antiva, Chairman of Shimanzi Casual Laborers said their existing wages do not commensurate with the current cost of living in the country, despite signing a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with their respective companies in 2008.

“We want to meet the company owners, not cartels; we want payment by a bag weight. If that is not implemented, we will continue with our strike,’’ said Antiva, adding that no employer has been paying the correct payment as per the CBA.

The workers are now urging the companies to harmonize payment to bring sanity to the sector.

“We are being swindled by contractors who pay the workers less. The cost of living has skyrocketed and some of us can no longer pay house rent, thus affecting our family lives,” lamented Antava.

However, the County Labor Officer Barack Owange urged the workers to embrace dialogue by choosing representatives to solve the stalemate, without disrupting operations.

“I have heard your grievances; I would appeal to you to demand your rights within the confines of the law. Don’t chest thump as you demand for your rights,” said Owange.

The County Labour Officer said in case of any agreement between the union and the companies it would be implemented to the letter.

“The major grievance I have observed is the increment of wages,’’ he said.

MUHURI Rapid Response Officer Francis Auma said the workers have suffered for many years at the hands of cartels.

He said, “The workers are complaining of carrying heavy loads for long hours throughout the day with no specific time on when to stop.”

On his part, the Kituo cha Sheria Legal Officer Zedekiah Adika said the workers were working diligently, but with low pay.

The money they are being paid was peanuts, compared to the cost of living at the moment. The payment should be in tandem with the current cost of living, added Adika.

Courtesy ; K. N. A