News

Atwoli faults Kenya Airways CEO Sebastian Mikosz on sacking of striking engineers

atwoli

Cotu boss Francis Atwoli. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has criticised Kenya Airways' #ticker:KQ chief executive Sebastian Mikosz over the sacking of striking engineers.

Mr Atwoli on Thursday said the move is unconstitutional and against their rights as workers.

“The CEO should be busy addressing the industrial dispute and other issues raised by the striking maintenance engineers and technicians,” said Mr Atwoli said in a press statement.

READ: KQ under pressure as engineers’ strike persists

Safety

Mr Atwoli said the CEO should assure customers and the aviation authority of the safety of aircraft and passengers considering that more than 30 per cent of the 600 workers in the technical department have downed their tools.

About 161 technicians last Wednesday downed their tools demanding higher pay.

In solidarity with KQ employees, Mr Atwoli said, workers' unions will be holding a meeting on Saturday.

READ: KQ Nigerian workers suspend strike plan to allow negotiations

The workers will be drawn from Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Kenya Airways (KQ) among others.

During the meeting, both Kenya Aviation Unions will be represented to discuss among other agendas the delays in negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

Mr Atwoli said the meeting will also discuss failure by KQ management to address the grievances that have been raised by the workers.

READ: KQ stopped from firing, hiring engineers

Grievances

Further, they will discuss the failure by KQ management to address the various grievances that have continued to be raised by workers

“The CEO has neither consulted nor engaged the two unions in the sector while making the decision to illegally fire the airline employees,” he said.

Mr Atwoli said cases of workers victimisation have been reported especially the technicians and engineers who belong to unions and those who are participating in the strike.

“This victimisation and threats should stop immediately. The workers are exercising their right to strike as enshrined in the Constitution Article 41(d),” he said.