Aviation Workers’ Strike Paralyses Airports Activities, Gov’t Given Ultimatum
Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has confirmed that workers will be on strike after airports across the country experienced a go-slow.
While issuing a formal press statement on August 30, KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema said the strike took effect Sunday morning.
Ndiema stated that it affects members working for the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) among other stakeholders.
“We wish to inform the public and the users of our services rendered by our members that, effective this morning, our members went on strike, more specifically,” Ndiema stated.
“This is Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority and Kenya Airports Authority.”
Ndiema said the action followed the union’s decision to lift the suspension of a strike notice issued on July 20.
According to the official, the union had initially issued notices covering four organisations, including the national carrier, after raising several grievances concerning workers’ welfare and employment conditions.
KAWU, Ndiema noted, later reached a framework agreement with the Ministry of Transport, and four more aviation employees to resolve the dispute, providing each employer to engage directly with KAWU and address the outstanding grievances raised in the July strike notice.
With this in mind, Ndiema stated that some stakeholders had continued engaging the union, while the other three organisations failed to hold what KAWU considered productive discussions.
This led to the statement that saw thousands stranded across various airports nationally.
“We agreed on a framework agreement Where each employer was going to sit down with the union and address the grievances, sadly With the exception of one airline,” Ndiema said.
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Adding, “We therefore, on Friday, on Thursday this week or last week, paved the way for the strike action that has commenced this morning.”
The union has insisted that for things to go back to normal, several unresolved issues have to be resolved.
These include violations of collective bargaining agreements, salary concerns based on the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) recommendations, prolonged contracts, limited job security, and stalled career progression.
Meanwhile, KAA has warned passengers about delays affecting departing flights at airports countrywide, advising travellers to confirm their flights with airlines before leaving.
Airlines across the country have also remained active, updating their customers on the progress of the standoff.
However, most have promised to actively monitor the situation and provide updates on the situation to their customers.
Aviation Workers’ Strike Paralyses Airport Activities, Gov’t Given Ultimatum
