The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) issued a strike notice on Monday 12th August set to take effect within seven days.
In response to the notice, the Kenya Airports Authority has released a statement assuring the public that the authority has put necessary contingency measures in place to ensure that airport operations continue without any disruptions in preparation for the potential strike action.
The major concerns for the union are surrounding the proposed deal between the Kenyan government and India’s Adani Airport Holdings Ltd.
This deal involves a public-private partnership to modernize and expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
KAWU highlighted several concerns to be addressed by the government given the impending partnership with Adani Airport Holdings Limited.
The union fears that the partnership could result in job losses for local workers, as Adani Airport Holdings might bring in non-Kenyan workers and scale down the existing workforce. There are also concerns that the terms of employment could be diluted under the new management.
Additionally, the union claims that the government has not followed legal requirements for public participation in this deal. They also expressed frustration that their members, who are key stakeholders, were not involved in the discussions.
KAWU is also calling for the removal of top officials within the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Kenya Airways, arguing that the current leadership is not acting in the best interests of Kenyan workers or the country.
The government, however, has defended the proposed partnership, stating that the modernization of JKIA is necessary due to its stretched capacity and that the estimated cost of $2 billion cannot be met by the government alone under the current fiscal constraints.
In the statement by KAA, the authority said that discussions are ongoing between the Ministry of Roads and Transport, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, KAA Management, and Kenya Aviation Workers Union to reach an amicable agreement.
