The disastrous Kenya Airways pilots’ strike and tag of war between them and KQ management has today taken a nasty turn amid threats of mass sackings and court summons of pilots’ union officials signifying a battle of titans as the duel persists for the third day running.
In a drastic turn of events, KQ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Allan Kilavuka has said the management will no longer engage striking pilots and released an advert seeking job applications to replace them signifying summary dismissals.
At the same time, the national carrier withdrawn from existing Collective Bargaining Agreement and Recognition Agreement with the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) citing malice by pilots on strike.
In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and KALPA, the airline indicated that the Board will now be engaged on the next steps to take.
The Informer has established the crippling airline has cumulatively recorded Sh700million loses for the third day with the striking pilots maintaining a hard stance.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi has summoned eleven KALPA officials for contempt of court after refusing to call off the pilots’ strike that entered its third day on Monday.
Lady Justice Anna N. Mwaure in an order issued on Monday directed the 11 to appear in court on Tuesday, November 8, for the ongoing strike that has left thousands of Kenya Airways (KQ) passengers stranded as the national carrier cancelled most of its flights.
“The following are summoned in court on 8th November 2022 to show cause why they should not be punished for contempt of Court for disobeying Court orders issued by the Court on 31st October 2022,” read the court order.
Lady Justice Mwaure summoned KALPA Chairperson Captain (Cpt) Timothy Njoroge, his deputy Capt. David Magwa, Capt. Mureithi Nyagah, KALPA’s General Secretary and CEO, Capt. Dzochera Warraakah, the Assistant General Secretary and Capt. Wilson Mathu, the Assistant Treasurer.
Executive Council Members Capt. Murithi Ireri, Capt. Mathew Karimi, First Officer Joseph Migwi, First officer Evelyne Nzongi, and First officer Daniel Geita, as well as the secretary, Christine Kariuki, were also summoned.
Amid the ongoing industrial action KQ has announced that 20 percent of its flights including the London route have resumed and 23 pilots have gone back to work. Today 47 flights have been cancelled affecting 15,000 passengers.
Kilavuka has said The pilots, who are on strike, will have to be held individually and collectively accountable for the losses the airline has suffered and the reputational damage done to the airline.
“As of 2:00pm this afternoon, we have restored 20% of the network of our daily operations. We will operate 18 flights out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) carrying over 2,000 passengers to Addis Ababa (2 flights), Johannesburg, Entebbe, Mombasa (2 flights) Dar es Salaam, Harare, Lusaka, and London,” said Kilauea.
KQ’s Chief People Officer Tom Shivo said that the airline has commenced hiring captains and first officers, a move that could escalate the ongoing trade dispute. In a rebuttal to the airline 132 pilots called in sick invoking the unfit to fly clause granting them 48 hours without need to provide medical files which is part of the collective bargaining agreement.
“132 pilots being sick is abnormal, it is out of work completely with the normal trends, we believe that this is a means of them avoiding coming to work and to protect themselves against disciplinary action,” said Kilavuka.
KALPA has said that they have made contact with labour cabinet secretary Florence Bore and she has agreed to convene a meeting that will bring the concerned parties together.
