Kenya Aviation Workers Union (Kawu) and KQ recorded the consent in court this morning which was recorded as a court order by Employment and Labour Relation Court’s Judge Bryam Ongaya.
Kenya Airways moved to court seeking protection following a directive by the aviation workers’ union asking its members to boycott the direct flight.
The aviation workers’ union has agreed to suspend the boycott of Kenya Airways’ October 28 maiden direct flight to United States.
The judge further directed the case to be mentioned on October 31 for reporting on the progress the negotiations and further orders.
KQ in its application pleaded with court to restrain the workers from disrupting the maiden flight, arguing that the US route is one of its strategy to turn around its fortune.
The airline said the directive issued by the workers union, asking its members to boycott the direct flight was intended to cause panic among the customers locally and internationally.
The directive asked unionised members across the passenger services, cargo handlers, inflight, technical and support services to stay away from the direct flight unless KQ management commits to union’s demand before October 28.
KQ claimed that the union has not complied with the labour laws before issuing the strike notice.
“The airline notes that the dispute has not gone through conciliation, no strike notice has issued.
KQ pleaded with court to suspend the planned boycott arguing that the Kenyan government and the airline have worked very hard to get approvals of direct flight to New York.
KQ CEO Sebastian Mikosz termed the Union’s directive as a blackmail meant to arm-twist the management to give into its demands.
KQ said disrupting the planned flag-off of the maiden flight by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday will cause significant reputational damage to the country and cause financial damage to the airline.
But the union’s secretary-general Moss Ndiema has denied calling for strike, noting that the directive was meant to protect its members.