Gov’t ready for dialogue with doctors over looming strike as KMPDU stands firm on demands

The government has now stepped in to avert the planned doctors’ strike announced late last month over the State’s failure to implement the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

This comes after Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah, in a letter to the government after a 2-day Special Delegates Conference (SDC), claimed the CBA was tossed to the wind along with their grievances which included the posting of interns.

Mr. Davji hence gave a 30-day notice during which the union would institute dialogue with relevant stakeholders for the implementation of the CBA, at the lapse of which the medical professionals would take to the streets in January next year.

The government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, has moved in to stop this saying doctors provide an essential service that if withdrawn could possibly cripple the country.

The ministry hence invited the doctors to the table for dialogue and appointed a mediator to facilitate the said talks between the various parties involved.

KMPDU was also urged to call off the planned industrial action so as to give way for the talks to begin on a clean slate.

“After a careful review, it has been noted the intended withdrawal of labour is being contemplated by members who are involved in the provision of service of an essential nature and it is therefore in the public interest for the Cabinet Secretary to urgently intervene to avert the union's threatened action,” read the letter signed by J.N Mwanzia for the Commissioner of Labour.

“Towards this end and in accordance with Section 70(1) of the Labour Relations Act, 2007, Mr. Kisurulia Kuloba, the Chief Industrial Relations Officer has been appointed to act as the conciliator in the apprehended dispute.”

It added: “All parties are requested to submit written memorandum in respect to the disputed issues and cooperate with the conciliator in his efforts to resolve it. In the meantime, the union is requested to call off the strike action to pave way for conciliation efforts.”

KMPDU welcomed the talks, terming the move by the national government as a gesture of good faith towards resolving the longstanding stalemate and vowed to cooperate with both the ministries of health and labour.

However, speaking to Citizen Digital, the union boss Dr. Atellah maintained that they would not be shifting their goalposts and will still push for all their grievances to be addressed during the course of the said dialogue.

He further added that they will stand their ground and, if necessary, walk away from the negotiating table if their terms are not met.