The union says the planned industrial action arises from the authority’s failure to conclude a long‑outstanding collective bargaining agreement and its continued use of temporary contracts for positions the union argues are permanent. Moss Ndiema, Secretary General of the KAWU, spoke to Channel Africa on Thursday.
Ndiema said one of the union’s key grievances is the unresolved collective bargaining agreement dating back to 2015. For more than a decade, he said, the authority has failed to engage meaningfully with the union or negotiate a binding agreement for unionisable employees. He accused the authority of delaying the process through technicalities and avoiding genuine negotiation, prompting the decision to mobilise for a strike.
Another major concern is what the union describes as discrimination in employment terms. Ndiema said a significant number of staff have been kept on contract or temporary terms, with benefits far inferior to those of colleagues on permanent and pensionable employment. Contracted workers reportedly receive medical cover only for themselves, unlike permanent staff whose family members are included. He said this disparity is unacceptable and forms an important basis for strike action.
Ndiema also raised concern that the authority is preventing some employees from joining the union, despite Kenya’s constitution guaranteeing workers the right to association without discrimination. He said management has argued that certain employees fall under the “management cadre” and therefore cannot join a union, a position the union strongly rejects. He said every employee, including the Chief Executive, if they wished, has the right to union membership without incurring disciplinary action.
Beyond these issues, the union also highlights ongoing disregard for court rulings. Ndiema cited the case of a union member who was dismissed and later won a court order reinstating her with full benefits. The judgment was delivered in September last year, but the authority has yet to comply. Ndiema said it is unacceptable for a public entity to defy a legal order, emphasising that all institutions are bound by the law.
Asked how these labour disputes and the looming strike have affected workers, Ndiema said staff morale has plummeted. He described a workforce that feels demoralised, insecure and financially strained. Many are struggling to meet basic obligations such as school fees, rent and medical expenses.
He said it is disheartening to see workers turn to family members to supplement healthcare because their employer does not provide adequate support. Ndiema noted that productivity has fallen sharply and warned that a strike would have a major impact not only in Kenya but globally, given the interconnected nature of air travel.
When asked what would be required to call off the strike, Ndiema said the union is not demanding an immediately concluded collective bargaining agreement but constructive and meaningful engagement. He said negotiations take time, and the union is ready to participate in a productive process. However, two minimum conditions must be met. First, employees in grades KCAA 4 and 5 who have chosen to join the union must have their rights recognised immediately and be allowed to enjoy full representation.
Second, the authority must withdraw newly introduced human resource instruments, including career progression guidelines and organisational structures that were developed without consultation. He said these should be withdrawn to allow proper engagement on a fair and jointly developed framework.
–ChannelAfrica–
