Kenya Airways pilots issue 14-day strike notice

Pilots contracted by national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) have issued a 14 day strike notice over what they have termed as unresolved grievances.

Through the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA), the pilots say the management of the airline has not found solutions to matters raised despite various engagements with KQ leadership.

“KQ management team remains unperturbed and unbothered to find solutions to these matters that have continued to impact the pilot fraternity,” the pilots said in a letter addressed to KQ CEO Allan Kilavuka.

The pilots have listed four grievances including the withdrawal of KQ’s staff provident fund, harassment of union officials, non-adherence to Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and leadership and governance issues at the airline.

“Internal mismanagement, incompetence and sheer impunity have continued to negatively impact the airline’s operations, financial viability and the ability of the airline to maintain its image as the Pride of Africa. We believe that a major overhaul and the restructuring of the entire KQ board and management team will be necessary if the airline seeks to fly out of the current turbulence, the pilots added.

In its response to KALPA, the management of KQ has indicated that it has been caught unawares by the strike notice saying the listed grievances were not indicated during consultation meetings.

“The union officials have neither used nor exhausted the dispute resolution mechanisms that are available to them as per labour laws. It is also unfortunate that KALPA has taken this action at a time when KQ is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and is beginning to record improvement in its operations,” stated KQ CEO Allan Kilavuka.

Tiffs between KQ and its pilots are not a rare occurrence having nearly been a mainstay issue for Kenya’s flag carrier during the tumultuous stint of Kenya Airways immediate CEO Sebastian Mikosz.

The conflict has mainly centred on the honouring of CBAs between the parties.