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New management for railways in East Africa is “a blessing” for industrial relations
14 August 2008
The establishment of a new management structure at a troubled railway operator could pave the way for better industrial relations between workers and the company according to the ITF.
A new management structure was put in place earlier this month at Rift Valley Railways (RVR), the company contracted to run the Kenya-Uganda Railways. A new managing director, Kevin Whiteway, replaces Roy Puffet; while Brown Ondego has been appointed executive chairman, a newly created position. The company has been accused by the Kenyan and Ugandan governments of failing to meet its contractual targets.
In addition, RVR workers last month took part in a ten-day strike over management’s failure to pay outstanding wages owed to workers.
To help tackle some of these problems, ITF Africa Regional Secretary Joe Katende met with RVR management on 25 July. It was agreed that an industrial relations harmonisation seminar would be set up to help strengthen the union. The seminar is scheduled to take place next week in Nairobi.
Commenting on the appointments, Katende said: “When RVR suffers, the workers suffer too. We have been closely following developments in RVR to look at ways of entering in the industrial relations arena and to assist workers at Kenya-Uganda Railways, many of whom are members of the ITF-affiliated Railway and Allied Workers’ Union.
“Management has confirmed its desire for assistance in industrial relations. It recognised that RVR would continue to suffer if there was no effective social dialogue between the union and the company. The new appointments might be a blessing to RVR and the workers if the union prepares itself for democratic participation.”
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