Satawu threatens strike action over alleged racism

Aviation industry in the firing line THE MAJOR union in the freight industry, the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), has threatened a strike which it says “will plunge the aviation industry into chaos” if SAA Technical does not promise to improve its record on race relations and transformation within weeks. Said Ronnie Mamba, the union’s national media officer: “Workers belonging to Satawu have vowed that if the (SAA) division does not improve its record, they will embark on an indefinite strike action within one month if negotiations do not produce concrete results.” The union has accused the airline’s operation of “blatant racism” – insisting on keeping top management positions for white males, refusing to adequately train black workers to let them move higher, and not acknowledging the government’s Employment Equity Act. “After 12 years of democracy,” Mamba told FTW, “the SAA technical department has vehemently refused to transform.” This is based on a series of events that Satawu has recorded over the past decade – some of which, he added, “have bordered on blatant racism”. They include the continued employment of a white worker who used derogatory language to a black colleague, and a black technician being assaulted by a white technician who has since been promoted. Also, Satawu complained that it had not been recognised at SAA Technical in spite of having 500 workers in the division. “Black workers who have worked as craftsmen for ten years have had no training at all,” said Mamba, “while their white counterparts have now progressed to senior positions through comprehensive training programmes. “Over 95 % of the 290 managers are white, while almost all menial workers are black, and nearly all team leaders are white males. “Satawu will no longer tolerate white domination in SAA Technical or any other division or subsidiary of SAA.”