KQ Pilots to Earn for Extra Hours Worked

The Kenya Airways has signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Kenya Airlines Pilots Association (KALPA) that is meant to improve the productivity of the airline.

The signing of the CBA brings an end to negotiations that have been in place for the past three years between KQ and KALPA over salary increment for pilots.

According to the new CBA, there will be no salary increment for the pilots but instead, provides an opportunity for pilots to earn a productivity allowance for more hours worked beyond a certain threshold.

The move will see more pilots flying thus eliminating the perception of pilot shortages in some fleets and will assist in stemming pilot attrition.

KQ pilots, who have gone on several industrial strikes over the past two years, have often been accused of not putting in the hours to match their pay and annual increments, a charge they have denied.

Paul Gichinga, Kalpa’s secretary-general, now says his members have agreed to switch to a new pay system beginning next year “in line with what is happening in the industry.”

“We have agreed in principle that pilots’ wages be based on productivity, meaning the more hours you work, the more allowances you get over and above your salary,” he said.

The CBA will be valid for a period of one year, from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018, with the implementation subject to registration at the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

KQ Human Resource Director Sammy Chepkwony and KALPA Secretary General Captain Paul Gichangi

KALPA has also raised concerns over the two years of revenue loss, questionable recovery strategies that include selling its most valuable assets in a bid to get back to profitability.

The national carrier cut their losses by 62 percent in 2017 to hit  10.2 billion shillings loss compared to the  26 billion shillings loss it recorded in 2016.