Settle disputes to end airport workers’ strike

The country’s major airports have once again been plunged into chaos and mayhem just over a month after airlines suffered heavy losses from an aviation workers’ strike.

The renewed industrial action has left hundreds of passengers stranded mainly at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and Mombasa International Airport due to delayed and cancelled flights.

Travellers in Kisumu and Eldoret also suffered a similar fate, as they arrived at the airports for their scheduled flights only to be told that they had been cancelled.

The strike involves the members of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), including air traffic controllers and other airport staff. The union is demanding better pay, improved working conditions, and access to unresolved employment benefits.

National carrier Kenya Airways and its subsidiary, Jambojet, have reported extended delays and flight cancellations. The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has advised travellers to check with their airlines for flight updates before heading to the airports.

KQ confirmed that it was experiencing delays of more than six hours and had to reschedule and cancel some flights. It also advised its customers to first confirm their flights.

The strike resumed after a 30-day return-to-work agreement signed in July collapsed. Workers are protesting the unfulfilled demands in collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), and unresolved management disputes.

Travellers arriving at the JKIA were frustrated as they had not received any notice of an impending industrial action. Some had already entered the departure terminals when they learnt that their flights had been delayed.

Their grievances include issues they had raised last month when they agreed to suspend their strike. They have accused the government of failing to honour the terms of a memorandum signed with their union in a back-to-work formula.

The inconvenience and losses suffered by the travellers call for a speedy resolution of the dispute to restore normal services. The disruption of flights is a huge business setback for the airlines, importers and exporters.

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