The Employment and Labour Relations Court has ordered striking Kenya Airways pilots to report back to duty tomorrow morning at 6 a.m.
Lady Justice Anna Ngibuini Mwaure, in a ruling delivered today, also directed the KQ management to allow the pilots to do their duties without harassment or any penalties and await further directions from the court.
“The Kenya Airways pilots to resume their duties by 6 a.m on 9th November unconditionally,” said Mwaure.
Justice James Rika had on October 31 issued an order requiring pilots to halt their strikes.
However, Kalpa commenced its work boycott on Saturday leading to the grounding of several planes that left thousands of passengers stranded.
She directed that Kenya Airways allow the pilots to perform their duties without harassment or intimidation, especially by not taking any disciplinary action against any of them pending the hearing and determination of the matter.
The order comes a day after a letter from the CEO of KQ Allan Kilavuka indicating plans to cancel its bargaining and recognition agreements with its pilots’ union, saying their current strike is unlawful and it amounts to economic sabotage.
The judge further directed the pilots’ association officials through their lawyers to file responses to the application that gave rise to an order saying the notice to commence strike actions and an application filed on 6th Nov 2022 in which orders were issued against the officials citing them for contempt.
The matter shall be mentioned on 21st November 2022 to confirm compliance.
In statement released today Kenya airways CEO Allan kilavuka has said that KQ welcomes the decision by the Employment and Labour relations court noting that the airline will comply with the court’s direction.
“The path to recovery will be difficult and will require the airline to re double its efforts to restructure lower costs and increase staff productivity as well as recover the time, money and reputation lost,” Kilavuka stated.
