Operations at major airports across the country will now proceed without disruption following crucial agreements reached between the government and the Kenya Airport Workers' Union (KAWU) at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) signed key Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with KAWU at JKIA, marking a significant step towards industrial harmony.
The KAA management, led by Acting Managing Director Nicholas Bodo, and KAWU, represented by Secretary General Moss Ndiema, signed three CBAs on Tuesday evening, covering the periods 2016–2019, 2020–2023, and 2024–2027.
According to KAA, the signing of the agreements means that the workers will now get improved employee benefits and equitable compensation.
''This milestone highlights our commitment to fostering constructive industrial relations and enhancing the welfare of our dedicated airport staff. The agreements aim to improve employee benefits, ensure equitable compensation, and promote job satisfaction at KAA,''
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on the phone following the signing of the agreement, a KAWU official confirmed that the looming industrial action that had threatened to cripple the services is now out of the way.
He revealed that the two main issues that had threatened to cripple the services were the cancelled proposed Adani Group International Holding takeover and the signing of the CBAs.
''Initially, there was a bit of delay with the signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and that threatened to cripple the services at major airports,'' the official stated.
''The two main reasons that had pushed the union to announce an industrial action were the issues of the now cancelled Adani takeover and the signing of the agreements.''
He added, ''Since all that is addressed at least for now we can say that the fear of an industrial action is handled and out of the way."
There were fears in the run-up to the Christmas holidays that the workers would proceed on industrial strikes over the delay in reaching the agreements.
KAWU, on Wednesday, December 18, cited claims of discrimination and alleged that the management had subjected workers to low wages, leaving them with no choice but to proceed with industrial action.
