The Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) said the strike is in full force vowing that none of its pilots will fly any Kenya Airways plane from JKIA starting Saturday.
KALPA Secretary-General Captain Murithi Nyagah in a statement issued Saturday morning said the industrial action was their right and in fulfillment of its industrial strike notice that it gave to the KQ management on October 19, 2022 over unmet grievances.
By Fred Azelwa.
“To this end, and as the Association had stated yesterday, 4th November 2022, no KQ aircraft has departed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) flown by a KALPA member from 6.00 am this morning. The strike is fully in force; KALPA members are exercising their right to withdraw their labour forthwith”, he said.
A crisis meeting between the union and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Mukomen Friday failed to reach a deal
“Kenya Airways included, wishes to inform members of the public that despite the goodwill from the National Government through the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Kenya Airways Management once again declined to listen to proposals on how to solve this impasse” he noted.
Captain Nyagah said they were however open to talks that gurantee a win-win situation.
“As we have stated on numerous occasions, including in the meeting convened by Government yesterday, KALPA is ready and willing to listen to proposals in GENUINE negotiations that ensure both parties come to an agreeable position.The onus is on Kenya Airways Management to bridge this impasse” he said.
The union is demanding the airline restarts contributions to its staff pension fund which was stopped during the pandemic, and the payment of all salaries that were accrued at the time.
In a separate statement, Kenya Airways put estimated losses if the strike goes ahead at Ksh300 million daily.
The Airline said KALPA was proceeding on industrial strike despite being ordered by the courts to rescind the plans.
The KQ Board says none of the grievances advanced by KALPA merits an industrial strike, adding that all pay deals with unions must reflect the company’s effort to return to profit.
The airline is trying to recover from a downturn in earnings.