Ignore pilots strike threat, says workers union

An aviation workers union termed the strike threat by Kenya Airways pilots aggravated the already bad situation of the national carrier and could easily bring down the airline.

The pilots under their Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) last week gave the top management of Kenya Airways seven days notice to quit or they strike, but later called off the strike pending outcome of a board meeting scheduled for this month.

But the Kenya Aviation workers union (KAWU) officials accuse KALPA of planning to bring down the company through the strike threat even as the airline was still smarting from the Sh26 billion loss it posted last year.

“We hold the view that if the strike materialises, the company will not only be hurt economically, but this could also lead to job losses... we as a union will wish to protect our members from the any job cuts that may arise,” said Moss Ndiema, secretary general of KAWU.

He said in the 2012 strike against the pay increase, the union lost 500 members and they were not ready for any other job losses. They want the pilots to ignore their union’s call.