By ALLY JAMAH

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) has taken over negotiations on behalf of striking airport staff locked in a pay dispute with their employer, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), saying national security was in peril.

But KAA insisted that workers who did not return to work by Sunday’s deadline would be dismissed and new staff employed soon. KAA said it was preparing to advertise vacant positions.

Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli and Aviation and Allied Workers Union Chairman Perpetua Mponjiwa (left) addresses striking Kenya Airports Authority workers at Cotu headquarters on Sunday. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli announced the move Sunday as the strike entered its fourth day and accused KAA leadership of avoiding the negotiating table to speedily reach an agreement.

"Our country is now facing a serious security risk.

The professionals trained to man the airports are not working and replacing them with police is irresponsible and ineffective. We must take our security more seriously," he told hundreds of workers at Cotu headquarters in Nairobi.

Order

KAA is using police officers to screen passengers and to maintain order in the country’s major airports, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Moi and Kisumu International Airports, a scenario that attracted the ire of striking workers.

"It is a blatant violation of international aviation standards to use police officers untrained in airport work. That is compromising the safety of our visitors and airlines. If there is a major security breach in our airports, KAA will have to take full responsibility," said Atwoli.

He expressed worry that at a time when the country was facing increased security risks, the country’s airports were improvising on security arrangements and accused KAA of painting a misleading picture that "all is well".

But KAA claimed that a majority of unionisable workers had resumed duties in the country’s main airports and those defying orders to return to work would be dismissed.

"We are in the process of issuing dismissal letters and preparing to advertise the vacant positions for qualified Kenyan citizens to apply," said KAA Managing Director Stephen Gichuki in a statement.

Atwoli on the other hand said he and officials of the Aviation and Allied Workers Union camped at JKIA seeking an audience with KAA to no avail. Mr Gichuki’s phone was said to be off and his whereabouts unknown.

He called on Transport Minister Amos Kimunya to ensure that the two sides meet to sort out the issues before the security and other services at the country’s airports degrade further.

KAA leadership

"We wonder why KAA leadership is not keen on negotiations. We call on the Government to intervene and bring KAA management to the table. The workers are ready for dialogue to resolve the matter amicably," said Atwoli.

The Cotu boss said there was no way the striking workers could return to work without a return-to-work formula that specifically eliminates any possibility of workers facing victimisation.

The Aviation and Allied Workers Union called for an industrial action after the KAA management allegedly failed to agree on a new salary plan bargain for its workers.