Kenya Aviation workers call off two-day strike after Government deal

Kenya’s aviation workers have called off a two-day strike that severely disrupted air travel at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi and several other airports across the country.

The industrial action, which began on Sunday, August 30, affected flight operations, causing delays and cancellations and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at one of East Africa’s most important aviation hubs.

The strike was largely driven by air traffic controllers and other aviation workers represented by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU).

The workers had raised several longstanding grievances involving working conditions, salaries, collective bargaining agreements and the implementation of previous agreements with aviation authorities.

The union had also complained about disputes involving the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and low-cost carrier Jambojet.

The disruption was felt beyond JKIA, with flight delays affecting regional airports and routes connecting Kenya with other parts of East Africa and beyond, including Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia and Mauritius.

Kenya’s aviation sector plays a major role in the country’s tourism, trade and wider economy, making the disruption particularly significant.

On Tuesday, September 1, the union and government reached a return-to-work agreement following intensive negotiations involving the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Labour, KAWU, KAA, KCAA and Jambojet.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir confirmed that an agreement had been reached to address the grievances that led to the strike.

KAWU Secretary-General Moss Ndiema announced that the industrial action was being called off with immediate effect.

He urged union members to return to their duties and begin restoring normal airport operations, including clearing flights that had been delayed or grounded during the strike.

Under the agreement, negotiations on outstanding collective bargaining agreements involving KCAA are expected to continue.

The government has also committed to addressing salary-related issues in line with the applicable guidelines.

A separate recognition dispute between KAWU and Jambojet will continue through the courts.

The agreement also provides protection against victimisation or disciplinary action solely because workers participated in the industrial action.

The latest strike follows an earlier aviation workers’ dispute in February, showing that tensions between the union and aviation authorities have persisted for months.

Previous disagreements included collective bargaining issues and concerns over the treatment and representation of workers.

The agreement brings an immediate end to the industrial action, but the underlying labour issues will now return to the negotiating table.

The effectiveness of the deal will therefore depend on whether the government, aviation authorities and the workers’ union can implement the commitments reached and prevent another disruption to Kenya’s critical aviation sector.