NAIROBI, Nov 4 (Reuters) – Kenya Airways PLC’s (KQNA.NR) pilots union will give its last choice later tonight on whether or not to start a strike on Saturday after the federal government urged them to it name off, the transport minister stated on Friday.
The walkout, which is because of begin at 6.00 am native time (0300 GMT), will have an effect on 1000’s of enterprise and leisure travellers at one of the crucial essential aviation hubs within the continent.
The pilots union has stated it might name a strike over a dispute on pensions contributions and settlement of deferred pay for its members after a 14-day discover had handed with out the airline’s administration addressing their grievances.
The airline described the deliberate strike as illegal and warned that it might jeopardise its restoration from the pandemic, and the airline might at a minimal lose 300 million shillings ($2.5 million) a day.
In last-minute talks to avert a strike, Transport minister Kipchumba Murkomen stated the federal government had issued a plea to the pilots union to not go forward with the commercial motion, including that disruptions on the airline had already began.
He additionally stated he was hopeful the pilots would obey a court docket order invalidating the strike.
“I’m very optimistic that within the subsequent two hours, the pilots will make the proper choice,” he stated of the choice by the pilots anticipated at 9pm native time (1800 GMT).
“They won’t throw away the newborn with the tub water.”
The airline – which is making an attempt to get well from a downturn in earnings in the course of the pandemic – stated the motion might additionally have an effect on cargo freight and likewise trigger large losses to farmers whose perishable items are due for export.
“The meant illegal industrial motion negates the strides KQ (Kenya Airways) has made this yr in bettering its monetary place following the COVID pandemic that affected the financial system,” the airline stated in a press release.
The Kenya Airline Pilots Affiliation (KALPA) — a union that represents greater than 400 pilots on the service — has stated it’s at liberty to name a strike after its strike discover expired.
“We’re subsequently at liberty to train our proper to withdraw our labour forthwith,” Murithi Nyagah, the final secretary of KALPA, stated in a press release.
($1 = 121.4000 Kenyan shillings)
Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Writing by James Macharia Chege and George Obulutsa; enhancing by Uttaresh.V and Louise Heavens
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