NAIROBI, Kenya,Sept 1 — Aviation workers have called off their industrial action and resumed normal duties after reaching a return-to-work agreement with their employers, ending a standoff that threatened to disrupt operations in the aviation sector.

📻 Breaking It Down

The agreement provides for the immediate remittance of agency fees owed to the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) and currently held by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).

The deal also clears the way for fresh negotiations between KAWU and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) withdrew its earlier guidance on the negotiations.

Under the agreement, KAWU and KCAA will proceed with CBA negotiations immediately, with the authority committing to honour and implement the outcome of the talks.

📌 What You Need to Know

The SRC had withdrawn its initial guidance contained in a July 28, 2026 letter and issued new parameters on September 1 to guide the negotiations.

KAWU, however, said it had reservations about the new SRC parameters and would seek to address what it considers shortcomings during the CBA negotiations.

The agreement marks a significant shift in the dispute, with the union opting to end the strike in exchange for commitments on the outstanding issues.

“While the union has reservations on the SRC guidelines issued on the 1st September, 2026 … and seeks to remedy the shortcomings arising from the said advisory during the CBA negotiations,” the agreement states.

The parties also reached an understanding on the long-running recognition dispute between KAWU and Jambojet.

The matter is currently before the courts, and the parties agreed to await the court’s determination and abide by the eventual decision.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya