Irate Menzies Aviation employees opted to start the week outside various airports around SA in protest against the company’s payment structure.
In Gqeberha, about 80 men and women wearing National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) regalia protested on the verge of Allister Miller Drive while union leaders wrangled with the Airports Company of SA (Acsa) as half a dozen police officers stood by.
Numsa Eastern Cape secretary Mziyanda Twani said they had started their peaceful protest outside the Menzies office within the airport precinct earlier but had been forced out by Acsa and police.
“Now they want us to move across the road but labour law says nothing about that so long as we are at least 10m from the main gate, which we are.”
He said the strike was part of a nationwide action.
“It is happening at the airports in Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg and all the airports where Menzies is contracted by Acsa.
“Menzies has reduced the 195 hours per month that the workers were putting in to 165 hours and consequently they are losing take-home pay.
“It is not clear why they are doing it but that is not our baby.
“It is suppressing our members economically and we are demanding that Menzies must start paying them again for 195 hours per worker per month.”
Twani said there about 3,500 Menzies staff participating in the Numsa strike countrywide including about 120 at Chief Dawid Stuurman Airport.
“The work they do includes checking people in, handling baggage and cleaning on their aircraft.
“We are anticipating that the strike will have a big effect this afternoon especially when there will be more flights departing and landing.”
The strike comes after Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim sent out a statement on Sunday.
Jim said employees were fed up with the management who allegedly refused to convert workers who were on permanent hourly pay to permanent monthly pay.
“This situation has a direct and negative impact on workers because if you are on hourly pay, it means you can never be sick,” Jim said.
“Workers are paid for the hours they work and if they are sick or on leave for any reason, they do not get paid, and this has a direct impact on their source of income.”
He said the situation meant employees often forced themselves to work, even when sick, to ensure they received their full salaries.
Acsa staff on the ground did not want to comment and referred questions to head office, and Menzies staff did the same.
However, both failed respond by the time of publication.
HeraldLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.