[2008] KEELRC 4 (KLR)
The court found, based on the results of a secret ballot conducted by an independent officer, that 69% of the unionisable employees wished to be members of the Union. This percentage exceeds the statutory simple majority threshold of 51% required for recognition under Section 5(2) of the Trade Disputes Act. The...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2008] KEELRC 4 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Kenya Engineering Workers’ Union; Respondent: Hans Kenya Ltd.
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Cause 82 of 2007
- Procedural Posture
- Cause / Final Award
- Outcome
- Claim allowed. Employer ordered to recognize the Union and sign a recognition agreement.
- Legal Topics
- Trade Union Recognition, Collective Bargaining, Union Membership Threshold
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Kenya Engineering Workers’ Union
Applicant
Hans Kenya Ltd.
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Cause / Final Award
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the union has recruited a simple majority of unionisable employees to warrant recognition by the employer.
- 2 Whether the employer is obligated to sign a recognition agreement with the union under the Trade Disputes Act.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found, based on the results of a secret ballot conducted by an independent officer, that 69% of the unionisable employees wished to be members of the Union. This percentage exceeds the statutory simple majority threshold of 51% required for recognition under Section 5(2) of the Trade Disputes Act. The court held that the Union had satisfied the legal requirement for recognition and that the employer was obligated to recognize the Union and enter into a formal recognition agreement. The court emphasized that both parties had agreed to respect the outcome of the secret ballot, and the process was conducted transparently and fairly. Accordingly, the demand for recognition was...
Court Disposition
Claim allowed. Employer ordered to recognize the Union and sign a recognition agreement.
Orders
- The Company is ordered to accord recognition to the Union.
- The parties are to sign a formal recognition agreement forthwith.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
32 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA.
IN THE INDUSTRIAL COURT OF KENYA
AT NAIROBI.
(Before: Charles P. Chemmuttut, J.,
J.M. Kilonzo & O.A. Wafula, Members.)
CAUSE NO. 82 OF 2007.
KENYA ENGINEERING WORKERS’ UNION………........………..Claimants.
v.
HANS KENYA LTD. ………………………………………………..Respondents.
Issue in Dispute:-
“Employers’ refusal to sign Recognition Agreement.”
Mr. Joseph A.N. Omolo, Industrial Relations Officer, for the Claimants(hereinafter called the Union).
Mr. Daniel Irungu Kamau, Human Resource Manager, for the Respondents (hereinafter called the Company.)
FINAL AWARD.
In our interim award in this case, which was announced on 16th October, 2007, we decided to establish, through a secret ballot, the exact and true wishes of the employees of the Company regarding their union membership and whether or not the Union has had bona fide members amongst them. In the circumstances, we directed Mr. Benson Okwayo of the Economic Planning Division (EPD) to undertake this exercise and find out as above, in the presence of, among others, both parties’ representatives, whether or not the employees wished to join the Union as members.
Consequently, Mr. Okwayo duly conducted the secret ballot and the results of his report, which was filed in Court on 11th January, 2008, are as follows:-
“The outcome of the balloting was as shown below:-
1. The total number of employees who voted was 42.
2. Those who wished to be members of the union were 29 or 69%.
3. Those who did not wish to be members of the union were 13 or 31%.
4. There were not spoilt votes”.
Accordingly, Mr. Okwayo concluded as hereunder:-
“The employees were well organized and knew exactly how to cast their votes. They were very calm inside the hall throughout the exercise and voter turnout was excellent, at 91%.
The parties promised to respect the decision of the workers on union representation.
Based on the above results, the union garnered 69%, which is over and above the mandatory 51% required for recognition”.
It is, therefore, apparent or clear from the foregoing results of the secret ballot that the Union has achieved or recruited more that a simple majority, i.e. 69%, of the unionisable employees as their members necessary for recognition by the Company under Section 5(2) of the Trade Disputes Act, Cap 234, Laws of Kenya.
This being the case, the demand for recognition is allowed; and the Company is ORDEREDto accord recognition to the Union, and the parties should sign a formal recognition agreement forthwith or immediately.
DATEDand delivered at Nairobi this 11th day of February, 2008.
Charles P.Chemmuttut, MBS.,
JUDGE.
O.A. Wafula,J.M. Kilonzo,
MEMBER. MEMBER.