Nairobi News

HustleNews

KQ operations disrupted as engineers down tools – PHOTOS

By HILARY KIMUYU November 29th, 2017 1 min read

More than 80 Kenya Airways engineers on Tuesday downed their tools demanding salary increments.

The employees, who included those who fuel, maintain and service KQ aircraft, want their pay adjusted upwards to match that paid to their equivalents working for Middle East carriers.

In a statement, the national carrier said due to the strike the company’s operation had suffered disruption.

Chief Operating Officer Jan de Vegt, had initially given the striking workers 30 minutes to report to their stations.

Some technical staff members of Kenya Airways stage a sit-in at the JKIA hangers. PHOTOS | COURTESY
Some technical staff members of Kenya Airways stage a sit-in at the JKIA hangers. PHOTOS | COURTESY

The engineers, some of whom accompany Kenya Airways flights to some African destinations, were asked to make a commitment to the planners that they will be available to accompany flights as rostered.

In December last year, the same employees went on strike demanding higher pay to match industry standards, better working conditions as well as management changes.

PHOTO | COURTESY
PHOTO | COURTESY

The industrial action paralysed operations at the national carrier’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) base, delaying flights to at least nine destinations, mostly African.

Technical workers are particularly important to KQ’s operations because they are charged with aircraft maintenance and refuelling. Some have to sign-off on airplanes before a flight can take-off.

Some technical staff members of Kenya Airways stage a sit-in at the JKIA hangers. PHOTOS | COURTESY
Some technical staff members of Kenya Airways stage a sit-in at the JKIA hangers. PHOTOS | COURTESY