After several days of major disruption at Kenyan airports, the aviation workers’ strike has been called off following an agreement between the union and the Ministry of Transport. The compromise provides for an immediate return to work, a review of grades within the aviation regulatory authority and the opening of a conciliation process to resolve outstanding demands.
The strike by the Kenyan Aviation Workers Union has officially been called off following the signing of an agreement between the KAWU and Kenya’s Ministry of Transport. The industrial action, which had severely disrupted operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, ended after negotiations described by both parties as “constructive”. The agreement provides for an immediate return to work, the resumption of normal air traffic, and a formal commitment that no retaliatory measures will be taken against striking workers.
“is going to read for us to appreciate what we’ve done together. The challenge we have faced over time in our airport, Kenya being the anchor state that we are servicing through the port of Mombasa, the northern corridor service in Uganda, DRC, Rwanda, Kigali and the facilities need to be up to be able to stay competitive and remain the kind of anchor state we ought to be. We do negotiate on certain parameters. It will include taking the concession agreement to cabinet and I want to assure you the cabinet is here to protect the interest of our Kenyans.”
Davis Chirchir, Minister of Transport – Kenya
At the heart of the compromise is a review of staff grading and representation within the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). The authorities have committed to reassessing employees’ professional classification and career progression prospects, one of the key sticking points in the dispute. Another major breakthrough is the formal inclusion of Grade 4 and Grade 5 employees within the scope of union representation, with recognition of union dues and representation rights.
“We appreciate the government’s goodwill in engaging the union promptly and demonstrating genuine interest in our workers. We are happy about the successful engagements, and in effect, the union calls off the strike based on the terms agreed in the return-to-work formula. We are satisfied with the way forward that will involve the Ministry of Labour.”Moss Ndiema, President of KAWU – Kenya
The protracted disruption in the aviation sector is set to conclude, with outstanding demands now heading to a formal conciliation process overseen by labour authorities to forge lasting solutions. This commitment aims to institute a structured framework for social dialogue, crucial for preventing future service interruptions. Consequently, passengers are slowly seeing a return to normal travel conditions. Both the government and the union have voiced a strong resolve to guarantee long-term stability across the nation’s airports.
