Workers union accuses pilots of plot to 'bring down' KQ

ELDORET, KENYA: An aviation workers union has dismissed strike call by the Kenya Airways pilots against company and warned that such a move aggravate the already bad situation and could easily bring down the national carrier.

The pilots under their Kenya Airline pilots association (KALPA) last week gave the top management of Kenya Airways seven day notice to quit or they strike.

But the Kenya Aviation workers union (KAWU) officials accuse KALPA's of planning to bring down the company through the strike given that the airline was still smarting from the sh25billion 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 any job cut 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 and therefore called on the pilots to ignore their union's call.

KALPA is demanding that Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Mbuvi Ngunze and top management should exit their jobs for steering the company down and warned that failure would provoke a strike.