The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) yesterday pledged its support for the members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) employed by Equity Aviation who are currently on strike at all the major airports across the country.

Equity Aviation is a newly incorporated and privatised company, after Transnet sold a majority of shares to a British multinational arms corporation and a local consortium.

The dispute allegedly emerges out of a lengthy round of negotiations, of which broke down on its first day of negotiations.

Cosatu reports that Satawu demanded information that the company reportedly refused to divulge, saying the union might leak such information to competitors.

On November 13, 2003, Satawu declared a wage dispute, whereby the bargaining position of Equity Aviation included a wage increase of 0,5% and a further 3% linked to performance criteria on an airport-to-airport basis, as well as reduction of the sick leave provision from 60 to 21 days in a three-year cycle; move from 40-hour working week to 45-hour working week without increase in pay and; transport costs to be phased out, among other criteria.

Satawu, however, demanded a wage increase of 10%; status quo on sick leave provision and on a 40-hour working week, as well as status quo on transport arrangements.

On November 18, 2003, strike action began at all representative airports, except Durban, where workers were reportedly facing charges from a previous strike action. Strikes will be held January 10, at all major airports, except Durban.