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BY LUKE KAPCHANGA DN/WEBUYE STRIKE 15/3/2005
More than 1000 unionisable employees of Nzoia sugar company yesterday went on strike callling for the removal of the managing director and human resources manager immediately.
The workers ledby the chairperson of Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation Wokers, Mrs Roselinda Simiyu paralysed the operations ,forcing the MD Mr Josphat Akoyo and HRM Mr Joseph Nganga to lock themselves in the offices.
The angry employees were repulsed by armed police when they tried to force their way into the offices to eject the top managers .
The workers who camped outside the MDs office while singing and dancing in mockery of the managers hurled insults at the police for protecting them.
The employees complained that the management were not interested in dialoque and were refusing to meet them as workers representatives, something they say can not be tolerated.
Bungoma police boss Mr Chris Kago lead a contigent of heavily armed policemen to guard the offices of the two managers.
The District commissioner Mr Joseph Irungu arrived later and went directly to where the MD was holed up for consultations.
The OCDP gave firm instructions to the policemen guarding the MDs entrance not to allow any person to interupt the meeting.
The press was barred by the police to get comments from the MD saying that he is in danger and it was only the DC who could accept the request.
Mrs Simiyu said that they will not rest until Mr Akoyo is sacked fro underming the union and using the police to indimidate and harrass them
The truoble with management she said started on March 9, when the branch union officials wrote a letter to the MD complaining that their members are being removed from their stations and given manual work .
The letter cited cases in of field assistants in harvesting section,sanitary services in welfare ,clerks in time office and drivers in transport section as the group of employees affected.
The union demanded in that letter that permanent employees be given back their jobs, and all casuals and temporary employees be removed to reduce costs.
They also asked for payment of production bonus for the year 2004 with immediate effect because they met the target before the year ended.
The letter addresed to the MD also asked for protective gear balance of financial year 2003 to 2oo4 to be cleared without delay.
They demanded for confirmation of employees who are on acting position and also reinstate suspended clerks at the weighbridge
.Mr Akoyo in reply to lthe letter on March 10 accused Mrs Simiyu of divided interest and asked her to resign immediately.
The branch secretary was told to make a decision of either resigning her position at the company and concetrate on union matters for holding several posts in various institutions.
The letter said "You have shown divided interest over time,otherwise in future permision for absence from duty on account of activities that are not company related will be limited or granted with loss of pay".
The unionist was given 48 hours to confirm in choosing between being an employee or resign to concetrate on other acivities.
In response the empolyees came out strongly in defence of their secretary and gave the MD the same amount of time to withdraw the letter and apologise.
They threatened to take industrial action if the letter was not withdrawn and vowed to have the MD sacked.
Last week week arsonist set ablaze over 1000 acres of cane on fire belonging to the company protesting against the managements decision to have canecutters hired by contractors.
Most of the burnt cane is still standing because the company can not harvest it as it is immature.