Airport staff continue go-slow

By Philip Mwakio

The go-slow by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) personnel manning key airports in the country entered its second day Tuesday.

Speaking on telephone to The Standard from Nairobi, Aviation and Allied Workers Union (AAWU) National Secretary General, Mr Bonee Nicholas Barasa said that they were not reneging on their earlier demands for better pay and now want the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Director General, Col (Rtd) Hillary Kioko removed from office.

"Our predicaments lie squarely on his doorstep. He has refused to talk to us. We are calling on the government to replace him immediately,’’ he said.

Barasa said that workers from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport have pitched camp at the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) headquarters.

"All staff under KCAA will soon be trooping out of the airport premises as we start the strike proper,’’ he said.

At the Moi International Airport Mombasa, a charter, Condor destined to Frankfurt, Germany had not flown out despite having been scheduled to fly out at 9.00 am.

The workers are complaining about lack of upward salary adjustments, lack of promotions and overworking.

KCAA workers at Moi International Airport Mombasa who spoke to this reporter from inside the Airport’s control tower said that they were fully in solidarity with their Nairobi colleagues.

The Union issued a seven-day strike notice following subsequent but unsuccessful Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations meetings contrary to section 57 of the labour relations act 2007.

The union has moved to advice airport stakeholders to look for alternative services during the period.

Vital services offered by the KCAA include among others controlling airplanes, safety regulatory and economic operations of all air services as well as provision of safe and expeditious flow of air traffic, attending to emergencies and preventing collision between aircrafts flying in the airspace and on the ground.