OVER 150 workers at Migori Municipal Council have vowed to go on strike today and disrupt services at the Council due to salary arrears amounting to Sh27.8 million for the months of July, August and September.

The workers through Kenya Local Government Workers Union (KLGWU) blamed mismanagement of funds by the Council. "Apart from the arrears" said Ezra Odondi, the union's secretary in Migori branch, "we have realized that the Council has arrears of Sh20m which have been deducted from our salaries over time and not remitted to NHIF, NSSF, LapTrust and KRA.

We also have personal loans deductions made and reflected in our payslips yet they are not remitted to the respective banks." Odondi said that the Union's attempts to find a way forward with the council have hit a dead end hence the need for industrial action.

However, coming to the Council's defense Erastus Karani the Town Clerk confirmed that the Council is aware of the salary arrears and that though cash strapped, the Council is working on how to pay it.

"We are sure the LATF will place a major priority in paying the arrears. We know the workers have been patient this far and hope they will report to work today" he said.

The Town Clerk further observed that the strike would not be legal since there hadn't been a 21 day notice given by the Union as stipulated by law.