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The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) are preparing to go on strike at British Airways and Comair. Comair operates and manages British Airways and Kulula Airlines in South Africa.  The company employs around 750 employees as airport staff. We are the only recognized union under airport bargaining unit with 389 members. If we embark on a strike it will be a national strike affecting services for these airlines at all the major airports nationally.

We deadlocked with the airline in relation to the salaries, our demands are as follows:

• We demand a salary increase of 12 per cent
• Guaranteed 13th cheque
• Travelling allowance
• Additional shop stewards
• Shift allowance to be 15% of Basic Salary
• Daily overtime allowance

 
In the last financial year Comair made a profit of R6 billion, which was an improvement of R452 million from the previous financial year. Workers are directly responsible for that performance. It was entirely through their efforts that the Executives and the board are experiencing huge profits. Workers have earned and deserve an increase and a living wage. The lowest paid worker earns R9000 per month. They are denied a guaranteed13th cheque, and other allowances like the shift allowance and the daily overtime allowance, whilst the executives receive millions in guaranteed bonus pay-outs.
 
British Airways/Comair is a racist company which refuses to pay workers equal pay for work of equal value. There is a significant gap between the salaries of white workers and African workers who do the same work.

The airline is putting workers lives at risk by forcing them to rely on dubious, unreliable methods of transportation. It is a fact that these airlines operate at awkward hours when the public transportation system is often not operational. Our members are expected to report for duty at 4am and they knock off at 10pm when public transportation is unavailable. They cannot afford to buy cars or to pay for alternative transport on their salaries. In terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) the airline has a duty to provide safe transportation for workers. Our demand for a travel allowance is reasonable and just.

Our members are fed up with being abused and exploited, and they refuse to back down. We are calling on Comair to come to their senses and negotiate meaningfully with our demands. The public will be hugely inconvenienced by a strike at this time of the year, and this will hurt their profits. We are aware that the airline has approached Bid Air to assist them during the strike. Unfortunately, that strategy will backfire because NUMSA has members there as well.
 
We intend for the strike to start next week Thursday. However, the airline has requested CCMA mediation under section 150. We will be meeting with management under the auspices of CCMA on Tuesday.
Aluta continua!
The struggle continues!

Issued by The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa