The baggage-handling strike at major airports by South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) members entered its sixth week on Wednesday with no end in sight.
Talks between airports baggage handling company Equity Aviation and Satawu aimed at resolving a wage dispute collapsed on several occasions with neither side willing to compromise.
Even calls by South African Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana for the parties to settle their dispute using the framework created by labour legislation have apparently fallen on deaf ears.
Close to 690 Satawu members employed by the company have been on strike at the 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.
Mdladlana said that it is in the long-term interest of the parties to endeavour very seriously to settle this protracted dispute and use the facilities of the Council for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration on the outstanding issues.
Satawu has vowed to continue striking until the company meets workers’ demands.
The union said it has presented a memorandum to Equity Aviation Services at its headquarters in Johannesburg and hopes the baggage-handling company will meet its demands soon.
The union has accused management of “selectively dismissing” its members and is demanding the company adhere to a court order and reinstate them.
The memorandum also said Equity Aviation should not increase working hours and “other downward variations of conditions and wait for proper timing should they want to engage”. — I-Net Bridge