Fedusa supports strike and wage demands of Comair staff
14:20 / 14 APR 2016
JOHANNESBURG, April 14 (ANA) – The Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) on Thursday came out in full support of the industrial action by its affiliated union, the United Association of South Africa (Uasa), as negotiations with airline Comair on a proposed multi-term wage agreement deadlocked.
Operations at the domestic and international portals of both Kulula and British Airways, both operated by Comair, were slightly delayed by 15 minutes on Thursday morning as workers downed tools and picketed in the face of ongoing wage negotiations.
Uasa was demanding a 30 percent increase over a three-year period, starting with 10 percent a year, comprising a consumer price index increase.
Comair, instead, was offering an equivalent 22.5 percent increase for the same period.
Workers on strike included Comair customer service agents‚ ticket sales agents‚ ramp controllers‚ airport control management and special service agents.
Fedusa’s general secretary, Dennis George, in a statement said Fedusa supported the strike action since Uasa and Comair had been engaged in salary negotiations since the beginning of November 2015.
George said Uasa was currently the only active union within the Airports Bargaining Unit representing in excess of 58 percent of the employees and that it remained questionable how Comair intended to mitigate the impact of the planned action through contingency planning.
“Fedusa acknowledges the efforts of Uasa during this time, and believes that it is important that Uasa strives for the support and promotion of decent work and benefits of fair wages for workers,” George said.
“The federation likewise calls on the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) to expedite the picketing areas at the Airports, so that the planned, peaceful picket action can continue unhampered.”
George said Fedusa would be adding its full support to picketing Uasa members who downed tools at the Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Johannesburg airports.
He said it was imperative for Comair to note the consequences of massive inconveniences and delays that a protected strike action from an active union representing the majority of the employees within the bargaining unit may have.
“Fedusa urgently calls on management at Comair to amicably resolve the matter and approach the negotiations with the necessary commitment and wisdom to reduce the growing levels of inequality that has attributed South Africa with being the most unequal society in the world.”
African News Agency