Africa-Press – Kenya. Operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport could from Tuesday 17, be paralised after the Kenya Airport Workers Union confirmed that it will proceed with its planned strike.
This is following a seven-day ultimatum that the union had issued that is set to elapse on Monday, having made little progress in discussions with Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema, on Saturday 14, said that all workers in the union at the region’s largest aviation hub, will be mobilized for the Industrial action.
“Industrial action is 99 per cent as we speak and we are not asking for impossible things, we are not asking for wealth or richness. For an employee whose pay has not been reviewed for the past 12 or 15 years how do you expect them to leave,” said Ndiema.
Among the concerns the union is pushing to be addressed is the implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements, salary reviews and placing contractual employees under the pensionable terms.
Ndiema said that once the Monday ultimatum declines, the union would decide on a strike timeline if management did not agree to recognise Grades four and five staff as unionisable employees and conclude a collective bargaining agreement within a week.
“We are determined to deliver a CBA in one week if management accepts that those grades are unionisable. But if they continue to place barriers in our way, we are prepared to act,” said Ndiema.
The dispute involves workers at aviation institutions including Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and national carrier Kenya Airways, with unions accusing employers of ignoring court orders on contract conversions and union recognition.
Ndiema said a key issue is a court directive requiring employers to convert long-serving contract staff to permanent and pensionable terms by December 31, 2025.
“So to anybody and everybody who cares, we are going to have a tumultuous week, I just want to ask you to prepare; it could be today, it could be tomorrow, it could be the day after, it could have been yesterday, maybe, just prepare,” the KAWU warned.
He accused management of appealing or delaying compliance despite previously consenting to the agreement at the Ministry of Labour and in court.
“These are court orders. They must be obeyed. You cannot agree in court and later disown the agreement.”
Union officials say at least 70 workers across departments are due for permanent employment under the ruling, and discussions with management are ongoing.
