Leonard Neill IT WAS business as usual at Johannesburg International Airport as FTW went to press on Monday morning (November 10) despite the strike by Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) workers. “Yes, the strike continues, but we have been able to meet all requirements and enabled the airline industry to go about their business without delays,” Acsa spokesman Solomon Makgatle told FTW. “There are some 300-400 people involved, but we have a number of private companies under contract serving us, and we have resorted to broadening our mandate with them to accommodate any worker shortfalls. Where a company has supplied say 15 workers in the past, we have merely requested them to step this up to around 40, and that has enabled work to proceed unhindered.” Cargo operations have not been affected, with the strike targeting mainly passenger services. The SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) has demanded a 10% increase for its members and a minimum wage of R3 300 a month across the board. Acsa initially replied with 7.5% and a minimum wage offer of R3225. It has subsequently increased this to 8% with the minimum unaltered. “Satawu called for a meeting which we attended on Saturday,” says Makgatle. “All I can say at this stage is that we tabled one or two options which they agreed to take back to their mandate. We will wait now to hear from them.” Initial fears that the strike might spread to other areas such as rail, ports and taxi services have proved unfounded.
