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News > World

South African Union Plans Airport Strike For Holiday Season

  • Union spokesperson said that British Airways and Comair have exploited workers and failed to provide livable wages.

    Union spokesperson said that British Airways and Comair have exploited workers and failed to provide livable wages. | Photo: Reuters

Published 12 December 2018
Opinion

"Aluta continua! The struggle continues!" the union's general secretary said in a statement.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) is preparing to go on strike against British Airways and Comair Thursday, Dec. 20, just before Christmas and New Years.

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“Our members are fed up with being abused and exploited, and they refuse to back down,” NUMSA Secretary General Irvin Jim said.

Jim added that the union is deadlocked with the company on issues of salaries and working conditions. NUMSA is demanding a 12 percent salary increase with a guaranteed 13th check, as well as a travel allowance and shift allowance at 15 percent of the basic salary.

The lowest paid worker receives the equivalent of US$638 per month.

“If we embark on a strike it will be a national strike affecting services for these airlines at all the major airports nationally‚" Jim said. “The public will be hugely inconvenienced by a strike at this time of the year‚ and this will hurt (the airlines’) profits.”

He added that the union is challenging the company’s racist policies and demanding equal pay for equal labor.

“There is a significant gap between the salaries of white workers and African workers who do the same work,” Irvin Jim said in a statement.

Comair has around 2‚200 South African employees‚ of which 373 belong to NUMSA, according to Business Day.

“We are calling on Comair to come to their senses and negotiate meaningfully with our demands,” Jim said. “We are aware that the airline has approached Bid Air to assist them during the strike. Unfortunately, that strategy will backfire because NUMSA has members there as well.”

Comair has requested a mediation meeting with union representatives, which will take place Tuesday, Dec. 18.

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