Vihiga governor has said that he will sign health workers Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to pave way for good terms of services. This paves the way for the implementation of the agreement that was earlier signed by the government in 2013 that will see health workers pocket more salaries and improve service delivery.
Akaranga said he was ready to sign the recognition agreement with the Nurses Union to end the stalemate. The agreement is also supposed to be signed by all the other County governments.
Akaranga who was speaking while addressing nurses and their officials told the health workers to report to work and offer services to the public.
The Vihiga Branch Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Zadock Miheso and Secretary General Caleb Maloba had led the nurses to Akaranga’s offices to seek an audience with him about the matter.
The union officials asked the county government to sign the agreement immediately to stop their suffering. “We want the county government to sign the deal with the union and show commitment and trust to the latter,” said Maloba.
They also accused the deputy governor Caleb Amaswache of calling them ‘Al-Shabaab’ during Jamhuri day celebrations while on strike.
“It is unfortunate that the deputy governor has resorted to calling us names instead of solving the impasse and giving out advice on the issue,” said Maloba.
The health workers had gone on strike about low remunerations, lack of promotions among other grievances.
Maloba added that the national government should advise the county governments appropriately on the Collective Bargaining Agreement to speed up its implementation.
A spot check by the press revealed that most nurses had not resumed work and the wards were deserted by the patients.