Is KQ’s inaugural flight in limbo?

Failure to a pay deal agreement, Kenya Aviation Workers’ Union has asked Kenya Airways employees to go on strike agreed before October 28th, the much anticipated date when the airline is set to have its inaugural direct flight from Kenya to the United States.

According to the union, they boycott includes the cabin crew refusing to perform duties on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft that will be deployed for the first direct flight to New York.

 

However, the national carrier, Kenya Airways has warned its employees against a planned industrial action this week.

Managing director Sebastian Mikosz in a statement says he will use all available legal means to thwart the strike. Kenya Airways management will address the aviation workers’ strike threats before October 28. Mr. Mikosz added that the strike will not only damage the airline’s brand but that of country too.

Speaking to journalists today, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, James Macharia said that the Kenya Airways management is willing to listen to the concerns raised by the union saying that no employer would like to be blackmailed especially when the prospects are looking good.

“We would like the management to hear all their grievances because I do not believe that they can let this go without being solved,” Macharia said.

According to the union, its officials held a meeting with the Kenya airways management to discuss the counter proposal by the airline which did not offer any salary increment to its members.

“Management is proposing a pay cut, in total disregard to immense sacrifices that our members made in the recent past when the airline was in extreme distress,” the Nairobi-based union said.

Kenya Airways however asked the union to withdraw its strike notice saying that negotiations would resume after the “successful” launch of its New York flight.

The US is Kenya’s biggest tourism market and the airline estimates that the New York route will boost revenue by 10% in 2019.

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