A Nairobi High Court has stopped the management of Kenya Airways from sacking 130 technical staff.
The staff who include engineers were fired by the airline after staging a strike on Wednesday in push for better pay.
On Friday, the carrier advertised the positions and called for fresh applications.
However, on Tuesday the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi issued the order pending the hearing and determination of the case.
“An order is hereby issued restraining Kenya Airways from replacing the technical staff,” said Justice Hellen Wasilwa as quoted by Business Daily.
The technical operators filed the urgent application through their lawyer had filed through lawyer Dismas Wambola.
Wamblola argued his clients were wrongfully dismissed.
“Some of the workers were either on lawful leave or off duty on November 28, and have not been issued with dismissal letters, but they have similar grievances as those already dismissed, and are reasonably apprehensive that Kenya Airways will soon issue them with dismissal letters,” said the lawyer.
He defended the operators saying the go-slow was not wrongful as the airline has indicated which makes their dismissal unlawful and unconstitutional.
“The claimants have only been agitating for better remuneration, which is a right of every employee and is protected by the law and the constitution.”
They decried that their termination could end up their aviation career as their skills can only be accommodated in a large airline which is only KQ.
Their dismissal means that even if they were to secure jobs with other smaller airlines, they cannot be all absorbed.
“Kenya Airways has damaged the reputation of these technical workers almost permanently in the eyes of potential employers,” added Wambola.
The case was certified as urgent and will be heard on December 18.