Nairobi — Two trade unions are battling over the right to represent workers of a transport company in Mombasa.

The Transport and Allied Workers Union (Tawu) and the Amalgamated Union of Kenya Metal Workers have been trying to outsmart each other over employees of Anwarali and Brothers Ltd.

On Wednesday more than 300 Anwarali workers went on strike demanding that the company recognises the Amalgamated union. They complained that Tawu has not represented them well.

Amalgamated Union Mombasa secretary Jackson Komba, who was at the company with the striking workers was busy trying to get the management of the company to sign a recognition agreement, so that it could start collecting deductions from the workers' wages.

But the company's operations manager, Mr Ashraf Haji, said he would not sign the agreement because of legal issues. The company has an agreement with Tawu.

Previously, the management had, through a letter dated July 5 this year, told the Amalgamated Union that it could not enter into another agreement.

Tawu is now accusing Amalgamated of encroaching on its jurisdiction saying that it was the only union mandated by law to represent transport workers.

Tawu also accuses its rival of inciting workers to go on strike, saying it was working on the grievances they had.

The union has written to the Labour ministry about the encroachment.