Mombasa dockers strike over pay and win immediate 12.5pc increase

May.27--A ONE-DAY dock strike at the Port of Mombasa over a pay resulted in a swift 12.5 per cent wage increase, which brought jubilation to dockers at Kenya's main harbour, reported the East African Standard.

Dock Workers union (DWU) leaders announced a 12.5 per cent salary increase for the highest paid docker and 15 per cent for the lowest.

The occasion also marked the conclusion of the 2014/2015 of the labour contract talks, marked by disagreements between the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and the union, which led to the day-long strike.

The lowest paid docker will earn KES27,690 (US$315.37) a month up from KES24,080 while the highest earning docker will earn KES80,516 up from KES71,570. House allowance rises from KES12,000 for lowest paid dockers to KES15,000 while the highest grade gets KES29,000 instead of KES25,500.

Operations at Kenya's main port of Mombasa ceased Thursday as workers demanded more pay. Dockers surrounded the port's administrative headquarters and abandoned waiting ships.

The port handles imports such as fuel for Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan,N Congo and Somalia.

Said KPA managing director Gichiri Ndua: "The situation is normal."

Said DWU general secretary Simon Sang: "We succeeded because of the solidarity from members that resulted in the strike action."