SATAWU,+Update+on+Nationwide+strike

=Update on Nationwide strike=

28th February, 2006

The strike action by SATAWU workers against the Nationwide Airlines continues today, following a weekend of acrimony and tension between the union and the company. At least 40 employees were locked out on Friday for what management described as an illegal strike. They remained locked even today.

Most of the affected workers are ground staff and thus, most flights have not been affected and this has allowed management to dig in their heels.

Workers have issued demands including a demand to raise the basic salary to R4 200, a 13th cheque equivalent to a month’s salary, a paid maternity leave, four rebated tickets a year as well as 30 days annual leave among others.

Instead of responding to workers’ demands and engaging them in negotiations, they have dismissed them out of hand, saying they are a minority union.

This has been countered by SATAWU, with proof that out of the 800 employees of the company, over 300 belong to SATAWU while only 166 belong to Solidarity, which the company has been willing to talk to and to entertain.

Workers have accused the management of encouraging racial division by recognizing a smaller union because it is predominantly white, while rejecting SATAWU because of its majority black membership base. Management has also compromised itself by choosing to warn workers against joining SATAWU, describing SATAWU as a radical union that will mislead them.

Nationwide has branches all over the country. It has refused to recognise the employment equity act and as such all its managers are white. According to SATAWU, it is this racial composition and the vehement refusal to recognize employment equity that makes them recognize only a white union, and refuse to accept that SATAWU has grown bigger than their preferred union.

For more information please call: Ronnie Mamba 082 646 5353 Ephraim Mphahlele 072 111 8131

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