THURSDAY, 11.00AM:
THE wildcat strike by Johannesburg International Airport baggage handlers has been called off after worker representatives, Apron Services and The Airports Company of South Africa agreed on Wednesday night that tenders will be invited for the airport’s ramp-handling operations.
The strike, which disrupted many flights, started early on Wednesday morning when baggage handlers from Apron Services downed tools over ACSA advertisements inviting tenders to run the airport’s ramp-handling operations. Apron Services is a subsidiary of South African Airways and the striking employees are members of the South African Railway and Harbour Workers’ Union.
WEDNESDAY, 10.00PM:
TWO police officers were injured on Wednesday when spontaneous industrial action at Johannesburg International Airport by unionised Airports Company of South Africa workers turned into a running battle with police.
Baggage and freight handlers started protesting on Wednesday morning after learning that the Airports Company of South Africa is outsourcing tenders to run the airport’s ramp handling operations.
One officer was seriously injured when he was stabbed in a leg with a sharp object, while the second was hit on the head with a brick after strikers attacked police with police sticks, stones and bricks. Police used teargas and stun-grenades to disperse the 350-strong crowd.
Baggage handlers returned to work on Wednesday evening and talks to resolve the dispute were expected to continue into the night.
“We cannot say at this stage whether workers will accept any deal hammered out by their representatives in talks with management,” ACSA spokeswoman Nicky Rose-Innes said on Wednesday evening.
At least 21 South African Airways flights were delayed on Wednesday, inconveniencing 3000 passengers, while passengers on a British Airways flight from London were forced to spend three hours on the plane after it landed.
Rose-Innes said SAA is making plans to expedite delayed flights in order to get back on schedule.