Kenya Aviation Workers Union has postponed the much-anticipated 7 day strike by 14 days, which was set to begin tomorrow, stating that the union has decided to give dialogue a chance.
This development gives Kenyan travelers a temporary sigh of relief, although the threat of a strike looms, potentially delaying the term 'delayed flight'.
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) received a much-needed reprieve after the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) agreed to postpone a planned strike.
KAA stated that in a press statement released on Saturday, August 17, KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema confirmed that the strike, which was set to commence on Monday, August 19, had been postponed to allow for continued discussions with government officials.
Ndiema explained that the decision came after positive progress was made in negotiations involving the Ministry of Roads and Transport, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, KAA management, and union leaders.
"Further to the statement released on Friday, August 16th, on the above-stated subject, Kenya Airports Authority would like to inform the public and all its stakeholders that the 7-day strike notice announced on Monday 12th August 2024, stands Postponed," KAA said in a press statement.
According to KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema, the Union opposed the proposed agreement with India’s Adani Airport Holdings which it says will cause job losses and bring in non-Kenyan workers.
“On Wednesday, we were invited by the CS Labour Alfred Mutua and after lengthy deliberations we were requested to pose our strike actions and allow dialogue to take place,” he said.
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“We also got an invite from the Transport CS David Chirchir for Tuesday next week. After we have held our delegates meeting today, we have agreed that we will delay our strike action for two weeks.”
However, Moses Ndiema further added that should the meeting fail to bear fruit, the union will issue a fresh strike notice for its members.
On this complete crisis, the Kenyan government has maintained the airport is not for sale and no final decision has been made regarding the proposed public-private partnership.
The workers had initially issued a seven day strike notice to protest the proposed leasing of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to India's Adani Group.
The strike notice issued by KAWU was due union members' concerns about the impact of leasing JKIA to the Adani Group, and its implications.
Aviation Workers feared the potential privatisation benefitting a third party would lead to job losses, reduced benefits, and deteriorating working conditions.
