Kenya has avoided a possible disruption to air travel after the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) suspended its planned strike to allow fresh negotiations with the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and two airlines over a long-running labour dispute.
The decision follows an agreement signed on Monday, paving the way for separate talks between the union and the employers. Discussions involving KAWU and the two airlines are expected to begin on Tuesday, while negotiations with KAA will start on July 29.
The suspension gives all parties time to address the concerns raised by the union through dialogue before any industrial action is taken.
KAWU had earlier warned that airport operations across the country could be affected after issuing a strike notice, saying its grievances had remained unresolved despite previous engagements.
Among the union's main demands is the removal of National Youth Service (NYS) and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel deployed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) fire station and other airports. It is also calling for the reinstatement of four employees.
Speaking during a meeting on July 18, KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema said the union had raised concerns over what it described as continued violations of the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
He said workers had exhausted all available channels in an effort to resolve the dispute, but repeated engagements had failed to deliver any meaningful outcome, leaving the union with no option but to issue a strike notice.
"Seven days, from the 20th on Monday, you are likely to face inconveniences and likely to run into challenges if you are to use any of our facilities in this republic," Ndiema said.
If the strike goes ahead in future, it could disrupt flight operations, passenger handling, cargo services and other airport activities across the country.
Ndiema maintained that the union was not out to disrupt the aviation industry but was demanding that agreements reached with workers be respected.
"We want a successful, prosperous aviation sector. But that cannot be achieved at the detriment of workers' rights. We won't accept that," he said.
He added that aviation workers were ready to demonstrate the role they play in keeping the sector running if their concerns continued to be ignored.
"They will realise power resides in us, not them," Ndiema said.