More than 100 ground staff affiliated to the trade union United Association of South Africa (UASA) are picketing outside Comair offices in Kempton Park on the East Rand.
Staff members of the aviation company went on strike after wage negotiations between the union and Comair deadlocked. Striking employees include customer service personnel, ticket sales agents and ramp control staff.
UASA is demanding a 30% (10% per annum) salary increase for the next three years but Comair is offering 22.5% (7.5% per annum). Striking members say they will continue with industrial action until their demands are met.
Members say they are forced to strike as economic conditions are getting tough and their salaries are not increasing and that wage gaps are very high. One striking worker says, "The gap between us and the next level is too big. They need to close the gap and those people earning more just send emails while we deal with the abuse from the passenger."
According to Jannem Goussard, UASA's operations manager, "We have around 120 members at OR Tambo (airport) and we are hopeful that it will pick up later. The initial demand was 35% over a three year period .The last position that we put to the company to try and resolve this was ten per cent over a three year period. The company then reciprocated with 7.5 % over the equivalent period. The company is trying very hard to cushion the blow but my members come with a lot of experience and when a customer comes with a difficult question, they will battle to deal with those quarries adequately."
The strike is already causing massive disruptions as flight delays have started affecting Comair travellers. Comair has a licence to operate British Airways in South Africa. They also own low-cost airliner Kululu.com and have routes in many other African countries.
The union says if the airliner meets its wage demands, low wage earners can increase their salaries by more than 10%.
Comair management could not be reached for comment.
(Culled from sabc.co. za)
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