South African Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on Monday expressed his disappointment that a two-month-old strike by baggage handlers involving the South African Transport Workers Union (Satawu) and Equity Aviation has still not been resolved.
Satawu contends that the dispute at Equity Aviation is over the company’s demand that workers accept an increase in hours of work without compensation, as well as a number of variations in conditions.
Satawu is demanding an 8% wage increase and is also seeking a 40-hour work week for employees, while the company is offering 6%.
The company has a total workforce of 1 500 and it is believed about 900 of those belong to Satawu.
“I call on Equity Aviation management to endeavour in a much more constructive way in resolving this protracted dispute with the leadership of Satawu,” the minister said.
“It is in the interest of the African National Congress government as we believe in social dialogue that the two parties should resolve this dispute by engaging one another,” he said. — I-Net Bridge