Pilots: Meet us at the negotiation table with an open mind
National
By
Mate Tongola
| Nov 07, 2022
Captian Murithi Nyagah, the Secretary-General of KALPA. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]
The Kenya Alliance Pilots Association (KALPA) is accusing the Kenya Airways (KQ) management of not bulging in their proposals on return to work formula as their strike enters its third day today.
In a press conference November, Monday 7, the Association Secretary-General Murithi Nyagah said that the pilots had already sent yet another proposal to the KQ management with further concession but they have not received any response from their employer.
"This afternoon (Monday) we sent yet another proposal with even further concession. On the other hand, KQ has made no concession from the proposals they presented over 2 weeks ago. They have made it clear that they will not meet until our members resume their duties yet this is contrary to the spirit of negotiation and talks on return to work formula," Murithi stated.
The 388 pilots maintain that they are ready to go back to work once the management of the airline agrees to meet them for one on one negotiation and not through press conferences.
"Their style of negotiation is not the best. If at all they faced us, we would have already come up with something tangible since Friday last week. Our proposal sits on the manager's table gathering dust and yet all we see is them (KQ management) addressing our issues through the press," the Secretary-General added.
KALPA is now calling on various stakeholder including Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) and the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) to mediate in order for them to resume work and fly thousands of passengers stranded especially at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
This comes even as the airline through its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Allan Kilavuka calls for pilots to apply for jobs in a move likely to result into sacking of those who have downed their tools since Saturday hence paralyzing operations.
Those interested in the job have until November 18, 2022 to apply for the role of First Officer. Minimum requirements include at least 500 hours on a commercial jet aircraft.