OR Tambo International Airport is set to be hit by a strike on Friday‚ but management cannot say how bad the effects will be.
Staff at South African Airways (SAA) are embarking on their second labour stoppage in the past few months, in Johannesburg.
“It is advisable that all passengers stay in contact with SAA for updates on status of flights and bookings,” the airport said in a statement.
OR Tambo spokesperson Leigh Gunkel-Keuler said management was in touch with law enforcement agencies to minimise disruption.
“We remain in close contact with SAA to ensure that we are prepared for all eventualities. We trust that the relevant parties can resolve the situation effectively‚ and as soon as possible‚” Gunkel-Keuler said.
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said it was supporting the labour action.
“The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) have joined forces to fight against the escalating crisis at SAA. Members are marching to demand an improvement in their wages and working conditions‚ as well as an end to the rampant corruption at the state-owned entity‚” the union said in a statement.
Sacca has been a vocal critic of the crisis gripping SAA‚ which disclosed this week that it was effectively bankrupt and might not be able to pay staff.
Sacca represents 1‚300 cabin crew members. In July, it accused the government of failing to act on reports indicating more than R1.8bn in tender irregularities at SAA.
-BusinessDay
