A baggage-handling company was denied an urgent interdict on Tuesday to have a strike by South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) members at South Africa’s larger airports declared illegal.
Equity Aviation Services was seeking the interdict against workers who were in their sixth day of striking. Some of the issues in dispute include wage increases and working hours.
Satawu spokesperson Evan Abrahamse said: ”The judge said he saw no substance to any of the applicants’ submissions. They were unable to convince the court that an interdict is necessary.
”On the contrary [the judge] said that it was clear that the employer ‘had made a calculation which turned out to be a misconception that they could keep their operation in place while the strike was on. Six days into the strike they are now feeling the pinch.’ Hence their application for an interdict.”
Herman Fleischman, a spokesperson for Equity Aviation Services, said: ”Although we didn’t get the interdict we don’t see it as a loss. We had to use all possible resources and this was just another option.”
He said it is ”business as usual” and that nobody has been ”late for their holiday” because of the strike.
Airports in Durban and George have not been affected.
”But we would like to see this solved to the benefit of our people,” Fleischman said.
He said the company will hold internal talks to discuss its next option.
Abrahamse said: ”Clearly this last-ditch attempt to avoid dealing with workers’ legitimate demands by running to the courts was ill-conceived on the part of Equity Aviation.
”We believe that it is time to stop wasting time and that the company should come to the table and begin addressing workers’ demands. Any reasonable offer without conditions will get the ball rolling.”
Abrahamse said: ”Today we have served notice of secondary strike action at Acsa [the Airports Company South Africa], South African Airways [SAA], SaExpress, SAA Technical and LGM [Lufthansa Gebaudemanagement].
”The notice period is seven days and we have informed employers that our members will embark on a one-day strike in support of members at Equity Aviation on New Year’s Eve.”
Fleischman declined to comment on the secondary strike action. — Sapa