The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has issued a strike notice against the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), citing what it describes as management’s failure to honour a return-to-work agreement signed on February 17 before Transport Cabinet Secretary David Chirchir.
In a video seen by the Star, KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema said the agreement guaranteed unionisation for workers in grades four and five and was to be respected alongside court directives.
“The return-to-work formula is a foundational document upon which subsequent negotiations are based. KCAA does not seem ready to recognise the rule of law like any other corporate body in the country,” Ndiema said.
He warned travellers to plan their itineraries carefully, noting that any disruptions arising from the industrial action would not be the union’s responsibility.
On February 17, operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and other aerodromes resumed after KAWU, KCAA and the government agreed on a return-to-work formula outlining measures to address workers’ concerns.
The agreement followed an urgent conciliatory meeting convened by Roads and Transport CS Davies Chirchir and Aviation Principal Secretary Terry Mbaika.
The meeting brought together officials from KCAA, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the State Department of Labour and union leaders.
Under the deal, all parties agreed to an immediate return to duty, restoring normal operations at JKIA and other facilities that had experienced disruptions during the industrial action.
“All parties formally agreed to an immediate return to work,” KCAA said in a statement.
A key component of the agreement was the review of staff representation and job grading within KCAA.
The parties resolved that the level of representation of affected employees would be reassessed to consider grades that had previously been proposed and agreed upon but were not implemented.
The Ministry of Labour was to spearhead a structured conciliatory process to address outstanding issues raised by workers and guide negotiations toward an amicable and lasting solution.
Chirchir emphasised the strategic importance of aviation to the country’s economy and the need to maintain stability in the sector.
“Aviation contributes immensely to the economy of the country, and we are committed to ensuring that the sector remains stable,” he said.
The return-to-work formula committed the union, KCAA and other stakeholders to ongoing dialogue through a round-table process aimed at resolving employee concerns while prioritising passenger welfare, operational reliability and national economic interests.
KAWU SG Ndiema said the union was satisfied with the outcome of the discussions and the government’s willingness to engage.
“We appreciate the government’s goodwill in engaging the union promptly and demonstrating genuine interest in our workers,” Ndiema said at the time.
“We are happy about the successful engagements, and in effect, the union called off the strike based on the terms agreed in the return-to-work formula. We were satisfied with the way forward that would involve the Ministry of Labour.”
He added that the talks reaffirmed a shared commitment among the parties to the fair resolution of labour issues and stability in the aviation sector.
The Ministry of Roads and Transport apologised to travellers, airlines and stakeholders affected by the disruption, noting that JKIA had experienced slowed flight movements during the industrial action.
Comments 0
Sign in to join the conversation
Sign In Create AccountNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!