The Kenya Airport Workers Union has ended a strike that grounded flights at Kenya’s main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, after reaching an agreement with the government.
The strike, which began yesterday, was called in protest of a contract awarded to India’s Adani Group to modernize and operate the airport for 30 years.
After a day of talks, the union leaders and government officials signed a return-to-work agreement, which includes the union’s involvement in all future discussions. The union’s secretary-general, Moss Ndiema, stated that the union had not accepted the Adani deal and would continue to fight for workers’ rights.
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The strike had caused significant disruptions, with hundreds of passengers stranded and flights delayed or canceled. The Kenya Airports Authority had urged passengers to contact their airlines to confirm flight status.
The agreement comes after a court temporarily halted the implementation of the Adani deal, pending a case filed by the Law Society and the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
The union had expressed concerns that the deal would lead to job losses and inferior terms and conditions for remaining workers.
The government has assured that it will protect the interests of Kenyan citizens during the airport’s modernization and upgrade.
