Umamah Bakharia | ub@radioislam.co.za

2 min read
8 November 2022 | 13:00 CAT

Kenya Airways is recruiting new pilots after its current pilots embarked on a strike from Saturday due to disputes over pension contributions and the illegal dismissal of pilots.

Photo credit: The Citizen

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA), which represents about 400 pilots, says they want the airway to hold their end of the deal.

“We are not even calling these demands; we are asking the Kenya Airways Management to honour their end of the bargain as stipulated in the Collective Bargain Agreement. And that is our main bone of contention with them,” says KALPA’S Kimani Isaac.

Adding: “We want our members who have been illegally dismissed because of their adherence to the CBA to be reinstated effective immediately since KQ Management acted outside the agreed-upon stipulations within the CBA. Lastly, we want individuals in management who have overseen these law violations to be censured.”

Meanwhile, CEO Allan Kilavuka says the striking pilots will be dismissed if they do not show up for work after dozens of flights were halted, leaving many passengers stranded.

On Monday, 23 pilots showed up for work, and the airline had restored a fifth of its daily network operations.

Reacting to this, the KALPA says, “Allan Kilavuka and his management team have acted in bad faith throughout this period. They have not ceded any ground since they gave their first offer. In fact, they have refused to have any negotiations with KALPA despite our repeated attempts to reach out, and continue to harass and threaten our members and association officials. This is not the way to solve this impasse.”

The union says it had sent a revised proposal to Kenya Airways on Monday afternoon and was awaiting a response from the airline’s management.