By The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) announced on Friday, August 16, 2024, that it has implemented contingency measures to prevent disruptions to airport operations in the face of an impending strike by the country’s main aviation union scheduled to begin on August 19.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union, which represents employees at airports and the national carrier Kenya Airways, has declared its intention to launch industrial action starting Monday. The strike is in response to a proposed deal with India’s Adani Airports Holdings to develop Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya’s largest airport located in the capital, Nairobi.
The union has expressed apprehensions that the Adani deal could lead to job losses and an influx of non-Kenyan workers. In their strike notice, the union referred to the proposed arrangement as the “intended sale” of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Kenya’s government has clarified that the airport is not for sale. Officials stated that no final decision has been made regarding what they describe as a proposed public-private partnership aimed at upgrading the East African travel hub.
In its statement, the Kenya Airports Authority said, “Discussions are ongoing between the Ministry of Roads and Transport, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, KAA Management and Kenya Aviation Workers Union to reach an amicable agreement.” This indicates efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue before the strike begins.
While specific details of the contingency measures were not disclosed, the KAA’s assurance suggests they have strategies in place to maintain airport operations even if the strike proceeds. These measures likely include plans for essential staffing and potential outsourcing of critical functions to ensure minimal disruption to air travel.
The situation highlights the delicate balance between modernizing key infrastructure and addressing labor concerns in Kenya’s aviation sector. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for future public-private partnerships in the country’s transport infrastructure and for labor relations in the aviation industry.
Reuters
