100 days of pain, despair and death is over, doctors end strike and head back to work
After 100 days, doctors walk away with half of what there were demanding for all along but with the signing and expected implementation of their revised 2013 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) doctors feel they have won the first battle in many to come.
Just hours before the state of the nation presidential address, doctor’s officials, government official from the ministry of health led by the Cabinet secretary of Health, Dr. Cleopa Mailu and council of governor’s officials signed the return back to work formula with the inter-religious council among the witnesses.
Immediately after the deal was inked, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) secretary general, Ouma Oluga summarily called off the strike and directed doctors to immediately report back to work.
“The strike is hereby called off” Oluga said amid celebration from doctors and Kenyans alike.
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Dr, Mailu on his part said the industrial strike will forever remain a black spot in the Kenyan history.
“Those 100 days will remain as black pages in the history of medical practice in this country indeed so black that we can count across the world we will be ranked so highly and that is not a legacy we are proud of” the CS stated.
Speaking on behalf of governors, COG chairman Peter Munya said the industrial dispute provides painful lessons the country should never repeat.
“This brings to an end one of the most painful experiences in the labor relations of this country” Munya said.
As a result of the back to work formula doctors who took part in the 100 day strike will not be victimized and doctors who had been fired will have their dismissal rescinded.
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The return to work agreement to be backdated to January 1, will see for instance the lowest paid doctor earn between Sh196,244 to Sh206,214 monthly, while the highest paid will earn between Sh442,060 and Sh592,980 respectively.
However even as Kenyans heave a sigh of relief at the resumption of normal health services at back of their minds they must be thinking did it really have to take 100 days to reach an agreement, did it have to take tens of Kenyans to die before human conscience hit all the parties involved, Did it?
More details of the agreement to follow.
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