Post: Postal Workers Appeal for Salary Payment as Union Seeks Lasting Solution

Nairobi: The Communication Workers Union of Kenya has called on the management of the Postal Corporation of Kenya to urgently resolve salary delays and unremitted staff deductions that have left employees struggling financially. Speaking during a peaceful demonstration march at the General Post Office (GPO) branch in Nairobi, Communication Workers Union of Kenya General Secretary Benson Okwaro said postal employees have gone for several months without pay, with the last salaries issued in March this year.According to Kenya News Agency, Okwaro noted that despite numerous engagements with management, the corporation has continued to make unfulfilled promises while workers face growing hardship. 'Our members have remained committed to their duties even as they endure prolonged financial difficulties. It is unfair and demoralising for workers to serve without pay or access to benefits from their pension and savings schemes,' said Okwara. He revealed that the Corporation has failed to remit deductions owed to va rious institutions, including pension funds, SACCOs, banks, and insurance firms, denying employees access to essential financial and social services.Okwara said the union has exercised patience over the years, choosing dialogue over confrontation, but the situation has become untenable. He explained that the union had issued a lawful notice to compel management to act, adding that industrial action would be a last resort if the matter remains unresolved. 'We have consistently sought an amicable solution through dialogue. However, if our members continue to suffer, we will have no choice but to take lawful action. The management must urgently prioritise the welfare of its workers,' he said.The union is demanding immediate payment of all outstanding salaries and a clear commitment from the Corporation to remit all withheld deductions. Okwaro also urged the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to intervene and facilitate talks aimed at restoring industrial harmony within the postal sector. 'The ministry' s intervention is vital to bring both parties together and ensure that a sustainable solution is found. Our members have shown great restraint, and we hope this matter can be resolved without disruption to essential postal services,' he added.He reiterated that the union's goal is not to disrupt operations but to secure fairness and dignity for employees who have faithfully served the corporation despite the challenges. 'In the spirit of cooperation, we remain open to dialogue. However, our members' patience should not be mistaken for weakness. It is time for the Corporation to honour its obligations,' Okwaro stated.The Communication Workers Union notified relevant authorities, including the Postmaster General, the Board of Directors, the Federation of Kenya Employers, and the Central Organization of Trade Unions about its concerns, signaling its readiness to engage all stakeholders for a lasting solution. Okwaro emphasised that the matter goes beyond delayed salaries, saying it reflects a deeper need for accountability and respect for public service workers who have continued to deliver critical services to Kenyans.The Postal Corporation of Kenya is yet to issue an official response on the union's concerns, even as anxiety grows among employees, many of whom say they have had to rely on loans and informal borrowing to make ends meet. If not promptly addressed, the dispute could disrupt postal and courier operations countrywide, affecting service delivery and public confidence in the sector.