The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union on Monday stated that it was still consulting its members on the way forward regarding the ongoing strike at some of the country’s main airports.
Satawu spokesperson Evan Abrahams said that negotiations on Friday between the union and Equity Aviation, the airports baggage handling company, mediated by the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), had proven unfruitful.
“The baggage system at the airports is under enormous pressure due to this strike and the reports we are receiving are that many people have even lost their bags,” Abrahams said.
He also accused Equity Aviation of employing “dirty tactics” in order to undermine the Satawu strike.
The parties again locked horns on Friday at the CCMA during talks to try to end the two-week old strike that has seen about 690 Satawu members down tools over wages and other conditions of service.
The strike has affected Johannesburg and Cape Town international airports. Satawu is demanding an 8% wage increase and is also seeking a 40-hour work week for employees, while Equity Aviation is offering 6%. The company has a total workforce of 1 500 and it is believed about 900 of these belong to Satawu.
Abrahams said union members at the Durban airport have not joined the strike action.
Equity Aviation spokesperson Herman Fleischmann said it was time for Satawu to realise that the strike is failing to have the desired impact.
“We all know that it has been business as usual at all airports, despite claims to the contrary by the union,” he said.
“We also believe union members are being prejudiced by this long strike, as they have lost thousands of rands in wages. How does Satawu explain that two weeks into the strike, Durban international airport has not joined in the action?
“We urge the union to contact us so that we can resolve this matter as quickly as possible.”
South African Airways spokesperson Rich Mkhondo said the strike has had a minimal impact on the running of the airports but there are contingency plans in place. – I-Net Bridge