Strikes @ South African airports

[SN30952]

Satawu* members will picket tomorrow at all 10 airports Acsa** manages in the country, demanding that the firm give them a 10% pay hike instead of the 7.5% Acsa is offering. Acsa has offered a R3 225*** minimum wage, while Satawu wants R3 300. Acsa has said its offer is final.

Thirty eight employees of Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) were arrested at the Cape Town International Airport today on charges of trespassing.
The group, all members of Satawu, staged a picket inside the airport precinct, and refused to move when police ordered them to leave the building. Their arrest came after some people in the group obstructed traffic from entering or leaving the airport. All of them would face charges of violating the National Key Points Act.

The dispute is about a 9 Euro raise on a monthly wage of 402Euro.
Ezrom Mabyana, the president of Satuwu: "We are in for a long haul," he said.

* South African Transport and Allied Workers Union(Satawu)
** Airports Company South Africa (Acsa)
*** 3,225 South African Rand = 402.65 Euro 3,300 South African Rand = 412.016 Euro The difference= 75 South African Rand = 9.36 Euro