By Makena Laban, Nairobi

A brewing standoff has emerged within Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), with a section of aviation workers distancing themselves from a seven-day strike notice issued by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) and throwing their weight behind the management.

According to the workers,  they represent the “silent majority” at KAA. They further accused KAWU’s leadership of pursuing disputes that could be resolved through dialogue, warning that industrial action would disrupt an aviation sector they described as sensitive and vulnerable to security threats.

They further challenged the legality of the union’s leadership, demanding fresh elections and the establishment of a KAWU branch at KAA to handle workplace disputes.

Addressing press on Wednesday at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,  Aviation Security Instructor Joyce Kaburu said workers should not be pushed into industrial action over what she termed as "small issues" such as agency fees, uniforms and shift arrangements.

KAWU has  issued a seven-day strike notice, demanding for the resignation of KAA's Managing Director Moses Wekesa.

 
The looming industrial action also comes weeks after a two-day go-slow in the sector that was called off following the signing of Return to Work Agreement between the Ministry of Transport and the Union led by its spokersperson Moss Ndiema.

She maintained that the aviation sector could not afford disruptions arising from disputes she described as manageable, noting that airports remain attractive targets for terrorists.

They also questioned KAWU’s representation of KAA employees, claiming that about 90 per cent of unionisable workers are not union members but have been paying agency fees.

Kaburu challenged the union to recruit more members instead of seeking to enforce agency-fee payments, alleging that KAWU is illegally receiving subscription fees from non-members.

Call Centre Supervisor Edward Lepore also dismissed KAWU’s claim that agency fees should form part of the issues surrounding the return-to-work agreement, arguing that the matter had already been dealt with by the courts.
Lepore said the agency-fee issue was not contained in the July 20 strike notice and was instead introduced during negotiations for a return-to-work formula.

He said KAWU should have appealed the court decision if it disagreed with it rather than make the matter a basis for industrial action.
Lepore also disputed KAWU’s claims regarding harassment of shop stewards, arguing that there were no legally elected shop stewards representing KAA workers.

The workers further called for greater communication from KAA management as the authority undergoes institutional changes as theyurged management to review cases involving dismissed employees who have lodged appeals, saying the affected workers deserved to be heard..