Reprieve as aviation workers call off strike

By Peter Ochieng

Stranded travellers can finally breathe a sigh of relief, after aviation workers called off their strike on Wednesday evening.

The strike which barely lasted 24 hours crippled normal operations at Kenya's busiest airport, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

Grounded planes, cancelled or delayed flights and confused travellers were the order of the day as workers under their Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) downed their tools, to protest against the airport's takeover by the Indian firm, Adani, in a lease arrangement of 30 years.

After a busy and chaotic day of defeaning silence from powers that be, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Davis Chirchir made his way to the airport, held talks with KAWU officials, alongside Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) Secretary General, before a return to work formula was arrived at.

According to some clauses of the agreement red by Atwoli, the workers will have veto power over the Adani deal.

As such, no agreement will be signed by the government without their involvement and green light.

Official documents of the proposed Adani deal, Atwoli said, had been availed to the aviation workers as per their demands, and that they would have a 10-day window to go through them and raise their concerns where necessary.

“We have received the most pertinent documents as requested by the union. We undertake to go through them within 10 working days and flag out areas of our concern which shall immediately be pointed out with a view of jointly engaging in discussions with government, Kenya Airways (KQ) and Kenya Airports Authority (KAA),” said Atwoli.

“The meeting shall immediately be convened after the said period of 10 working days. The way forward shall be determined by the outcome of our engagement on the same. We shall be represented in all the negotiations by two people.”

Atwoli further stated that the meeting resolved to fast-track pending Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) negotiations within the next two months.

On the other hand, KAA acting Managing Director Henry Ogoye undertook to engage with registered union officials, as he assured workers that they will not face any victimization due to the go-slow.