The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) and Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) are in fresh tussle over proposed changes in safety operations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
While issuing a seven-day strike notice to the authority, KAWU said the talks between KAA and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) on the transfer of Ground Flight Safety (GFS) operations is being done without proper consultation.
“It is now in the public domain that KAA is in the process of transferring the roles and functions performed by the GFS department to KCAA which will result not only in loss of jobs to employees currently working there, but also starve KAA of huge amounts of revenue leading to financial instability and imminent redundancy,” said Ndiema.
While confirming the talks, KAA Acting Managing Director Dr Mohamud Gedi said issues raised by the union will be resolved in due course.
“Aviation is highly regulated and it’s not that one role can be taken by the another because there are regulations and standards to that,” said Gedi.
KAWU is also accusing KAA for its failure to hire 500 staff members who are on fixed term contracts to permanent and pensionable contrary to established procedures and fast-track payment of unpaid overtime.
“We therefore demand the immediate confirmation of these employees confirming their promotion to the roles they are currently performing,” added Ndiema.
Ndiema said the pending dues cover staff at Wilson Airport who have not received their pay for the last six months.
KAA now plans to hold a meeting with union leaders in an attempt to avert the industrial action.
“These are matters we can resolve. We will engage the union on all the matters raised and work on the solutions,” added Gedi.
