Airline sacks striking workers as chaos reigns in airports

• Travellers cancelled their plans as others sought other carriers or transport means

Kenya Airways on Saturday sacked all striking workers.

The dismissal letters signed by the acting manager of passenger services Egla Too said the workers had breached their employment contract and were required to clear with the company immediately.

The decision by the airline complicated efforts to end the strike that entered its second day on Saturday.

Last night, trade union officials and KQ management were locked in tense negotiations to resolve the deadlock that could take a huge toll on the reputation of the national carrier and cost the economy millions of shillings.

Central Organisation of Trade Unions secretary-general Francis Atwoli met KQ managers together with representatives of the striking workers.

Speaking at the Aviation and Allied Workers Union offices in Embakasi, the Cotu boss called for “urgent measures to solve the crisis”.

The Kenya Airline Pilots Association and Federation of Kenya Employers representatives also attended the negotiation meeting.

AAWU secretary-general Jimmy Masege said that the union was willing to go down from the 130 per cent increase they have demanded to a “reasonable amount”.

But Kenya Airways chief executive Titus Naikuni on Friday said a 130 per cent pay raise would bankrupt the company.

Least paid

AAWU officials said the least paid worker earned Sh8,863 but the airline’s management refuted this putting the figure at Sh21,000 per month for the least paid employee.

The highest paid unionisable worker earns Sh80,000 per month including allowances, said Mr Naikuni.

Transport minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere warned striking employees of dire consequences.

“It is sad and shameful that the union has failed to recognise the current economic position globally and instead gone ahead to demand higher pay,” said the minister.

As the negotiations continued, hundreds of Kenya Airways passengers were stranded at airports last evening.

Even as union officials and the airline’s management struggled to end the deadlock, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Moi International Airport in Mombasa and Kisumu Airport were scenes of frustration and anguish as stranded passengers, including Members of Parliament, awaited word on their flights.

In Mombasa, angry passengers streamed into the airline’s offices at the airport to enquire about their flights but the staff on duty were not helpful.

Issued statement