Friday, November 02, 2012
By Joseph Akwiri
MOMBASA, Kenya, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Workers at Kenya's main port of Mombasa called off a strike on Friday after the management issued letters of employment to casual staff who were demanding permanent jobs.
The strike, which was in its second day, had left loading and unloading at a standstill at the main gateway for East Africa's trade, which handles imports such as fuel for Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.
A separate strike by workers demanding better pay that had halted operations by Kenya Ferry Services was also calledd off after union officials and management agreed on a timeline to address their grievances. The stoppage had started earlier on Friday.
"We have had intense discussions with ferry management and union officials and resolved to end the strike. As we speak, the ferries have resumed operations," said Ali Hassan Joho, assistant transport minister and a Coast region legislator.
Simon Sang, secretary general of the dock workers union, told port workers the dispute had been resolved after most of their employment letters were signed.
"Go to your departments. All letters have been dispatched to the departments. Pick your letter and go back to work," he said.
"Our most important demand has been granted," he told jubilant workers, who pumped fists in the air in celebration.
Bernard Osero, corporate affairs manager at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), said the union had agreed to send the workers back to their jobs after receiving their letters.
"We are glad the strike is officially called off ... everything is back to normal. We are estimating the impact of losses in business and will make it know soon," he said.
Dockside work resumed gradually as workers trickled back after collecting their letters of employment, saying these guaranteed them a pension scheme. Others chanted slogans outside the port's main offices as they lined up to get their letters.
"It feels a lot better now. At least I am assured of a hefty package when I retire," said Juma Kassim, a crane operator.
"I don't know why the port had to wait until we forced them by striking. I'm sure the port has suffered great losses."
Hundreds of tonnes of cargo were piled up.
"We arrived here yesterday morning to collect containers destined for Rwanda, but there is nobody to load them on the trucks. We just spent the night out here in the cold," said Colyns Mutua, a long-distance truck driver.
Labour unrest has increased in east Africa's biggest economy this year following steep price increases and ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections next March. Teachers, university lecturers and doctors have also staged strikes to demand better pay and working conditions.
The ferry strike had blocked trucks, carrying fuel, food and goods, and office workers from the mainland who were trying to get to work to and from Mombasa island.
"I have been waiting here for over 10 hours, yet no ferry has operated. My vegetables are now shrunk and they will go bad. This is a big loss," said Mwanaisha Ali, 36, a trader.
Tourists at the coastal strip popular with Kenyan and foreign holidaymakers, who were hoping to get to the main airport from beach luxury resorts, were left stranded.
The nearest alternative route into the island requires a detour of about 80 km. (Writing by James Macharia; editing by George Obulutsa and Jane Baird)