Vital Industries Still On Strike In South Africa

Written by Ann Brown

Aug 31, 2013

Countrywide strikes in vital sectors of the economy were set to continue, trade union leaders said.

No end was in sight for labor action by the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) at SA Airways (SAA), and by National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members in the construction sector.

In the motor industry, National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) members were discussing a new pay offer, but said their strike would continue.

SAA technical staff affiliated to Satawu downed tools, demanding a 12 percent wage increase.

Union spokesman Vincent Masoga said the strike would continue indefinitely, as the union was not prepared to accept the tabled offer of 6.5 percent. He said the talks were being conducted in a hostile environment. “Management at SAA, in general, are highly unreasonable and that is why we will not back down,” Masoga said.
SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali declined to comment on the wage negotiations, but said numerous flights had taken off and landed at the airport.