Hundreds of flower farm workers threaten to walk out of COTU

Flower farm workers in Naivasha have lashed out at Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli for failing to fight for their rights and better salaries for years.

The workers have threatened to walk out of the giant Kenya Plantations and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) as their plight had been ignored and they were undergoing untold suffering.

Speaking in Naivasha, the workers questioned the Cotu leadership, noting that it was led by people who were over 70 years old and were no longer conversant with their needs.

This comes a day after Atwoli, during Labour Day celebrations, defended the union amid concerns and allegations that Cotu was getting involved in politics.

KPAWU Naivasha Branch Chairman Elias Walekhwa said flower farm workers were facing tens of challenges as the union bosses continued to politic.

Walekhwa said Cotu was just interested in workers’ monthly contributions and had failed to address the issues of low wages and poor working conditions.

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“We are giving Atwoli three weeks to address the challenges of the workers, failure to which we are ready to walk out and look for a union that caters for our needs,” he said.

Walekhwa further said the workers’ annual Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) had not been discussed, as they continued to receive low salaries.

This was echoed by his deputy Ezekiel Chweya who termed the eight per cent annual increase a drop in the ocean due to the prevailing harsh economic times.

He lashed out at the top officers of KPAWU for failing to protect and address workers’ plight, leading to years of suffering and job losses.

“It is time that Atwoli retired from the union and allowed the young generation to take over. We feel that our challenges are not being addressed,” Chweya said.