Airport catering services threaten strike

Posted on 7 October 2019

People travelling from South Africa’s major airports have been advised to bring their own food, as airport food services have threatened to strike.

The National Union of Metalworkers South Africa (Numsa) has said that it will strike after anniversary bonuses were withdrawn from Air Chef’s management.

‘The strike will affect OR Tambo airport, Cape Town International and King Shaka in Durban. We advise that if you intend to fly on certain airlines tomorrow [Monday] please pack a ‘skhaftin’ [lunch box] because there will no food or catering on the flight,’ Numsa spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, told TimesLive.

Air Chefs has gone to court to interdict the strike by the union, after receiving the notice to strike.

Airline spokesman Tlali Tlali confirmed to TimesLive that a notice to strike had been received, but said contingency plans were in place to ensure there was ‘minimal to no impact’ on operations.

‘Since serving the company with a notice to strike, Air Chefs has applied for an urgent interdict in an attempt to block the strike. We condemn the backward management with the contempt they deserve,’ said Hlubi-Majola.

The food service workers said that they have been waiting on the promised bonus from January and are demanding that it be paid, as it is part of their employee benefit.

Flights that are expected to be affected include SAA, SA Express, SA Airlink, Mango Airlines, Air Mauritius, and Swiss Airlines.

‘In addition to an interdict, Air Chefs has activated its contingency plans to ensure business continuity should the industrial action materialise,’ said Tlali.






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