Unions call for meeting with management over KQ lay off plan

NAIROBI, KENYA: Kenya Airways workers unions have called for a meeting with management to explain criteria management would use to sack 600 employees.
Reacting to KQ's chief executive Mbuvi Ngunze statement which said that savings will be derived from among other avenues a decrease in staff headcount, Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) are calling for more information as to the details of the layoff plans.
"We are aware of information that KQ plans to lay off 600 workers. We are not in the picture as to which sections will be more affected," said Moss Ndiema, Secretary General of KAWU.
"Information is so scanty so we hope to meet the management, especially the HR to discuss the matter before we make our next move."
Ndiema said a decision to take the matter to court has not yet been arrived at until the unions involved are informed of details by the KQ management.
"The management is yet to consult unions including, KAWU, the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (Kalpa), and the Kenya Aviation and Allied Workers (KAAWU) over their lay off plans. Once they do so we will be able to chat the way forward," Ndiema said.
The three major unions represent workers in different categories. KQ has approximately 500 pilots, a majority of whom are Kalpa members.
KAWU with a membership of about 10,000 also includes some airline staff, fire-fighters, security, ground crews and cargo handlers in all major airports in Kenya.
Last week, KQ CEO Mr Ngunze said the layoff is part of the struggling national carrier's "Operation Pride" turnaround programme to help it fly to profitability.
"So as to achieve these targets, the Board has, after re-evaluating the various options, come to the painful decision that part of the required overhead savings will be derived from a decrease in staff headcount," read a statement by KQ last week.
KQ hopes to save about Sh2 billion in the planned lay off.
However, it is not clear how much it will pay workers in the exercise.
"We wanted a meeting this week to enable us inform our members as what is happening but so far we are yet to fix a date," Ndiem said.
The 600 staff to be laid off will be drawn from various departments which the unions are yet to be informed.