BY RITA MUTHONI
Kenya Medical Pharmacists and Dentist Union ( KMPDU) has given an immediate directive to its Members who were on strike to commence work on Friday Morning.
This comes after the Union started negotiations with the county government.
The Union entered into a consultative meeting with Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire on January 11, 2023, and agreed to resume work until January 17th, 2024 when the negotiation efforts will determine if they will continue working.
During the preliminary meeting, the government promised the effective promotion of six senior doctors nearly retirement age to their right job groups, Doctors between job groups M and N to have common Cadre promotions, and paying all Union dues amounting to approximately Sh5.9 million.
The county government also promised to absorb nine doctors on contracts and engage them on permanent and pensionable terms.
KMPDU Eastern Branch chairperson Denis Mugambi said they agreed with the governor to form a bipartisan committee to negotiate with the county government.
The bipartisan committee members shall include 13 members from county government and six members from KMPDU.
The bipartisan committee shall recommend terms of employment for doctors, non-common cadre promotions, and redesignation of consultants.
On her side, Mbarire said her administration should clear all pending remittances amounting to Sh278 million in the Next financial budget cycle.
The governor pointed out that having paid 300 million in the last financial year will result in financial strains not only in paying doctors but the entire workforce within the County.
She noted that Embu Level 5 Hospital will be taking the doctors willing to further their studies under the COSECSA program.
The governor promised regular meetings with doctors to address issues affecting them as they arise to avoid service disruptions in the future.
She added that her first meeting with the Union representatives would happen once they resume work, where they will discuss how regularly the meetings shall occur.
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