Kenya Meat Commission has dismissed more than 80 workers at its Athi River production plant after a two-day go-slow that disrupted operations at the cash-strapped state firm.
The affected employees were handed interdiction letters on Wednesday and stopped from entering the premises, where armed police were deployed to keep them out. Management also instructed security officers not to admit any of the interdicted workers.
The dispute came as the plant was trying to restart slaughtering after three weeks without operations. A first batch of 120 cows had arrived on Monday, but the workers slowed down work, according to the report.
In a letter dated November 27, 2018 and signed by managing commissioner James Ole Serian, KMC said the workers had been dismissed for misconduct. The letter carried the reference
Interdiction Pending Investigations into Gross Misconduct.
The workers rejected the action and said they were being punished for pressing for their rights. They said they had downed tools since Monday over gratuity, pay increments and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“We are being victimised for demanding our rights. We have been suffering for years since the company was revived in 2006. We demand that Agriculture Cabinet secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri intervenes,” said Wyclife Kibet, one of the sacked workers.
Fredrick Mwangangi, speaking for the workers, said production staff in Grades 9 and 10 were earning as little as Sh11,922.
Ole Serian said the workers had committed gross misconduct and that management had no choice but to act. He said operations were running at 30 percent and added that the firm was still struggling to meet market demand.
“The company has been struggling to meet the market demand and cannot tolerate indisciplined workers. We are hopeful the teething financial challenges shall be addressed by the mother ministry. Livestock supply is resuming gradually,” Serian said.
On Tuesday, 40 cows were slaughtered, while 80 others remained on the holding docks awaiting processing.
