The Congress of South African Trade Unions is calling on the Minister of Public Enterprises to work with the striking unions to resolve the current impasse at South African Airways. This chaotic situation will lead to an implosion of the airline. The Federation supports the striking workers and calls on all workers to unite and work together to defend their interests.

Workers have every reason to demand fair wage increases considering the fact that some airline senior executives have seen their salaries doubled over the last two years.

These workers have legitimate concerns about the safety of their jobs and their livelihoods. A government that was elected on a ticket of employment creation needs to be hands-on and decisive in saving jobs. It is worrying to see that the government does not seem to want to help workers.

Trade unions should campaign for a guarantee of no job losses from all the SOE’s. The extravagant expenditure by the top executives and the exorbitantly corrupt contracts that have been signed with many service providers have to be investigated.

 If workers do not support each other on the picket line they will meet each other on the unemployment line.Failure to resolve these problems holds the threat of a country governed by the pursuit of profit for a few, declining working conditions for many, and a weakened state that is unable to meed the basic needs of the people.

Issued by COSATU
 
Sizwe Pamla (Cosatu National Spokesperson)
Tel: 011 339 4911
Fax: 011 339 5080
Cell: 060 975 6794