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South African union threatens strike action in aviation racism row
30 August 2006
Civil aviation workers in South Africa have vowed to take strike action if the maintenance repair operation of the national airline fails to improve its record on race relations.
According to ITF affiliate South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), SAA Technical, owned by South African Airways (SAA) and employing some 3000 workers, insists on keeping top management positions for white males. It does this by refusing black workers the training they need to enable them to move to higher positions. The union has also accused the company of non-compliance with employment equity laws.
This view is based on events that have occurred over the past decade, including an alleged remark by a white employee to a black worker: “All my efforts to turn you into a white man have failed, you remain a kaffir”. Satawu claims that there were no consequences for the white employee.
In addition, the union claims that 95 per cent of the 290 managers are white, while almost all menial workers are black; black workers employed as craftsmen for ten years also receive no training at all unlike their white counterparts, who have now progressed to senior positions.
Satawu has threatened indefinite strike action within a month if negotiations with the company fail to produce concrete results.
Randall Howard, Satawu General Secretary and ITF President said: “Aviation, a strategic component of our national economy, plays a pivotal role in defining South Africa and its national identity to the rest of the world. It therefore has a responsibility to be at the forefront of government’s transformation programmes.
“We demand therefore that it demonstrates a commitment towards transformation immediately. We further warn management that unless they do this, we will mobilise all our members in the sector to make sure that our point is made, our resolution is felt and the division eradicates all forms of racism and complies with the Employment Equity Act and other progressive legislation.
“Satawu will no longer tolerate white domination in SAA Technical or any other division or subsidiary of SAA.”
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