South African Minister of Labour on Wednesday called on the parties involved in the baggage handler strike at Johannesburg International airport to settle their dispute using the framework created by labour legislation.
Talks between airports baggage handling company Equity Aviation and the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) collapsed last week.
Close to 690 Satawu members employed by the company have been on strike for the past four weeks at Johannesburg and Cape Town international airports over the wage dispute.
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.
Mdladlana said that it is in the long-term interest of the parties to endeavour very seriously to settle this protracted dispute and utilise the facilities of the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on the outstanding issues.
“It is in the public interest that they do so urgently.”
The Minister added that he has every confidence that with the involvement of the CCMA Director Edwin Molahlehi the dispute will be resolved.
“I would not like to see workers losing wages and at the same time I would not like to see employers damaging their relations with employees due to a prolonged strike,” the minister said.
“Social dialogue is an inherent feature of our labour market policies and employers and workers should use the mechanisms established in order to resolve disputes,” he said. – I-Net Bridge