/ 8 March 2004

Airport strikers consider new offer

The long-running strike by airport baggage handlers continued on Monday while the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) considered a revised pay offer.

Herman Fleischman, spokesperson for the employer, Equity Aviation Services, said the company and the union had met under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Equity made its sixth revised offer over pay and conditions, which Satawu had taken to its membership for consideration.

A further meeting is planned for Tuesday afternoon.

A demonstration in support of the striking baggage handlers is planned by the Congress of South African Trade Unions for 3pm on Monday at Bloemfontein airport.

The strike began on December 18. Fleischman said 597 of Equity’s 2 100 workers — or 29% — were on strike.

A Satawu representative was not immediately available for comment. — Sapa