The Kenya Aviation Workers Union is asking for special terms for cabin crew on the long-haul flight, insisting allocation of additional staff would allow each cabin crew member “adequate” time to rest in-flight.
The unionists also want the cabin crew to be paid Sh20,000 allowance per hour exceeded up to a maximum of 21 hours duty period, “in line with international aviation standards”.
KQ had earlier offered to pay the crew Sh5,000 per hour.
The Ministry of Transport had on Tuesday moved to arrest the escalating industrial tensions between the union and the airline’s management ahead of the flight.
The management of national carrier, Kenya Airways #ticker:KQ, has opened talks with its employees' union to discuss demands for special perks and working terms for staff deployed on the inaugural direct flight to the US.
Union officials on Wednesday said they were for the better part of Wednesday afternoon locked in negotiations with the airline’s management.
“The management agreed to come to the table,” said Kenya Aviation Workers Union (Kawu) secretary-general Moses Ndiema. “We are deliberating on the welfare of the staff who will be on the flight including how many they will be, the sort of rest facilities they will be offered and the remuneration as well as the outstanding CBA.”
Kawu is asking for special terms for cabin crew on the long-haul flight, insisting allocation of additional staff would allow each cabin crew member “adequate” time to rest in-flight.
The meeting came just a day after State House waded into the controversy surrounding the October 28 flight with a demand the airline’s management swiftly resolves any outstanding issues with its employees to ensure its success. Kenya Airways chairman Michael Joseph yesterday struck an optimistic tone amid the negotiations saying the outstanding issues had been “resolved” ahead of the flight.
“Yes, absolutely…it has been resolved,” said Mr Joseph in interview without divulging further information.
The Business Daily however established that union officials were still locked in a meeting by the time of going to press.
State House spokesperson Kanze Dena on Tuesday said the Office of the President had raised concerns over the standoff between workers and the Kenya Airways management and sought an assurance that the row would be resolved ahead of the flight.
“Kenya Airways has assured us that the flight will take off,” said Ms Dena.
The unionists also want the cabin crew to be paid Sh20,000 allowance per hour exceeded up to a maximum of 21 hours duty period, “in line with international aviation standards”.
KQ had earlier offered to pay the crew Sh5,000 per hour.
The Ministry of Transport had on Tuesday moved to arrest the escalating industrial tensions between the union and the airline’s management ahead of the flight.
Transport secretary James Macharia had said at a press conference that “reason would prevail” in reference to the standoff, adding that his ministry had engaged the airline’s board of directors to speedily resolve the matter.
“We would like the management to hear all their (workers) grievances. No employee would like to blackmail his or her employer, especially when the prospects are so good-looking because if KQ does not succeed it means the competitors succeed,” he had said, adding that (employees) understand the competitive landscape.
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