Nairobi: Kenyan aviation workers on Tuesday called off a two-day strike that disrupted air traffic and caused flight cancellations and delays at major airports across the East African country after reaching a return-to-work agreement with the government and aviation authorities.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) agreed to immediately end the industrial action after signing the deal with the Transport Ministry, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), and Kenyan carrier Jambojet. The agreement stipulates that the employees will resume their duties and cooperate with management to ensure the immediate restoration and continuity of normal operations.

The deal includes the release of agency fees owed to KAWU and held by KAA, which will be provided to the union immediately. Additionally, KAWU and KCAA will resume negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement, with the KCAA committing to honor and implement the outcome of these discussions.

The agreement also ensures that workers who participated in the strike will not face victimization, intimidation, discrimination, or disciplinary action over their involvement. However, a separate dispute between KAWU and Jambojet over the recognition of the union remains unresolved and is currently before the courts, with both parties agreeing to abide by the eventual ruling.

The strike, which began on Sunday, caused disruptions at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, as well as airports in Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret. Kenya Airways reported that some of its flights were canceled, delayed, or otherwise disrupted, while RwandAir canceled its WB452 and WB453 services on Monday due to air traffic control constraints at JKIA.

This was the second major aviation workers' strike in Kenya this year. In February, KAWU members staged another strike that disrupted Kenyan airspace and operations at JKIA for about a day and a half before returning to work following government-mediated talks.