After wage agreement ends Swissport stoppage, strikers get fired
- Published on 3 Dec 2015
- HR Pulse News Desk
The New Age wrote on Tuesday that a recently concluded wage agreement with striking employees may not be a bridge over troubled water for ground handling company Swissport.
The company provides baggage handling and airline support services to various airline operators at OR Tambo International Airport and a recent wage offer saw striking National Transport Movement (NTM) members return to work last Friday. Swissport suspended 108 of the union’s members for what the company said was an “unauthorised demonstration in contravention of the Gathering Act” on 23 September.
The gathering could apparently have resulted in the company losing its operating licence at OR Tambo. “Although we were vindicated by the wage offer resulting from the strike that brought Swissport down to its knees, we are preparing to file papers to the CCMA for employees suspended during the strike,” NTM president Ephraim Mphahlele indicated.
However, in an unexpected turn of events, The New Age learned on Monday that all 108 employees, including 13 of the union’s shop stewards, have been fired from the company. Swissport’s commercial director, Bob Gurr, said the matter did not warrant comment.
Source: SA Labour News
