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Victory for Kenya aviation workers
19 August 2009
Workers at Kenya Airways, have won better pay and working conditions following two days of strike action last week.
The ITF-affiliated Aviation and Allied Workers’ Union of Kenya, which represents the employees, called the strike on 13 and 14 August. The action followed four months of deadlocked negotiations with management who refused to agree an acceptable increase in salaries and allowances. Some of the lowest paid workers were not earning a sustainable living wage; meanwhile management awarded themselves and other high salaried workers huge pay increases.
Workers from Kenya Airports Authority and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority took part in the industrial action in support of their Kenya Airways colleagues.
In addition, the ITF coordinated international solidarity action, assisted by other unions and African labour confederations. For example, pressure from Dutch union Vakbond Van Nederlands Cabinpersoneel ensured that KLM airlines did not cover flights for Kenya Airways during the strike.
Thanks to the international attention, six union leaders who were charged with unlawful assembly and imprisoned during the action were quickly released.
Kenya Airways staff now have an agreement offering much better conditions – including a 20 per cent wage increase – a considerable improvement compared with what had been on offer before the conflict.
Joseph Katende, ITF Africa regional secretary, said: “The Central Organization of Trade Unions played an important leadership role in the negotiations. They led to the return to work formula that ensured no staff would be victimised and that all threatening letters of dismissal were withdrawn.”
“A well planned strategy for a courageous struggle has ended with a victory,” added Gabriel Mocho, ITF civil aviation section secretary. “Our congratulations go to the workers and the leadership.”
Jimi Masege, general secretary of the Aviation and Allied Workers’ Union, expressed his thanks for the solidarity support from the ITF and other unions.
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