Ferry workers strike set to start tomorrowTHURSDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2012 00:07 BY WESONGA OCHIENG
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KEEPING AFLOAT: The Kenya Ferry Services workers are demanding a 15 per cent pay increase. Photo/Elkana Jacob
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THE Kenya Ferry Services workers strike is expected to start tomorrow, junior staff management workers chairman Hassan Ramadhan Jitah said yesterday.
Ramadhan said that the workers were unhappy with the slow pace at which the management is taking to respond to their 15 per cent pay increment.
“Instead of playing ping-pong with the management, we will paralyse the operations this Friday if our demands will not have been met. We are tired because the management, board of directors, the PS and Minister of Transport has not addressed this issue,” said Ramadhan.
He added that the salary increment strandoff dates back to 2010 where workers demanded a 20 per cent pay hike.
“We are now only demanding for 15 per cent increase because we have worked for more than four years without an increase despite the skyrocketing cost of living,” said Ramadhan.
If the demands by the workers are implemented, the lowest earning worker will receive Sh16,100 up from Sh14,000.
The highest paid junior management staff will pockets Sh44,850 up from Sh39,000.
In a quick rejoinder, KFS managing director Musa Hassan said tthe issue had been taken up by the management and appropriate action will be taken to avert the looming paralysis at the Likoni crossing channel.
“Every institution has procedures and that is what we are doing at the moment. We have mechanism in place to address the issues and I would urge the workers to be patience,” said Musa.