Airport workers vow to go on with strike until demands met

The Kenya Airports Authority workers’ defied a government directive to return to work by mid-day on Sunday as the boycott enters its fourth day on Monday.

The workers accused the government of intimidation and vowed to go on with the strike until their demand for a 25 per cent pay increment was met.

Despite the strike, there were no flight disruptions reported.

Operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret airports were not adversely affected as management staff and workers from other departments were deployed to replace the striking workers. Most of those on strike include security guards, fire-fighters and porters.

Terming the strike “illegal”, Transport permanent secretary Cyrus Njiru on Saturday ordered the 1,300 workers to return to work or face the sack.

“Failure to report to work will be viewed as desertion of duty and such desertion is ground for termination of service under the employment Act,” Mr Njiru said.

However, the Aviation and Allied Workers Union secretary general urged the workers to ignore the directive and press on with their demands.

“Stay put until we have a collective bargaining agreement. Do not be intimidated,” the union secretary general Nicholas Baraza told the striking workers at Central Organisation of Trade Union (Cotu) headquarters in Nairobi.

Mr Baraza dismissed as propaganda claims by KAA managing director Stephen Gachuki that some unionised workers had reported to work.

The union, which has sought the help of Cotu, accused the Ministry of Labour of not being an impartial arbitrator.

On Saturday evening, the union officials walked out of a meeting with the KAA management, accusing the arbitrator of partiality and high-handedness.

“The arbitrator told us that we have to go back to work immediately before negotiations claiming an agreement cannot be entered under duress,” said Mr Ernest Nadome, a Cotu board member who attended the meeting.

The airports authority has stuck to its claims that the striking workers were fairly remunerated, with the lowest paid worker taking home Sh63,000 a month in basic salary.

The union has, however, disputed the amount, insisting that the lowest paid worker earns Sh28,000 per month.

The authority has offered a nine per cent pay increase but the union is demanding 25 per cent.

On Sunday, the union and Cotu officials held a closed-door meeting with the KAA management to come up with a return-to-work formula.

However, by the time of going to press, no deal had been struck.

At the same time, the workers’ union condemned the National Health Insurance Fund’s move to implement a 50 per cent increase on membership contribution.

A statement signed by the union gecretary general said they would not honour the directive. (READ: KAA staff down tools over pay)

Additional reporting By Jonathan Komen and Bozo Jenje