Airport security alert

The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) raised this concern last week saying Acsa had no capacity to replace the suspended workers.

The 52 workers are part of a team of Acsa security personnel responsible for ensuring that private security companies adhere to international safety standards.

"Acsa faces challenges in that it is understaffed," said Nehawu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla.

"These guys double-check security measures implemented by private security companies at the airport and check if those companies comply with international standards. Who will do their job in their absence? Colleagues who remain can't possibly cope."

He also accused Acsa of unfairly suspending the workers, saying they were being punished for snubbing a meeting called by Acsa chief executive Monhla Hlahla earlier this year.

"They continued working while their colleagues left their work stations to attend this campaign (meeting) and they were later accused of embarking on a go-slow," he said.

"Wage negotiations are still in progress and the company depended on unreliable spies to accuse the workers of trying to go on an illegal strike."

Pamla said the suspended workers were also embarrassed by being escorted out of the airport building by police.

"They were not even warned. Police just approached them individually and told them they were requested to vacate the building, without any explanation," Pamla said.

"They received letters afterwards, but no explanation was given. Even now the company refuses to elaborate. You can't shoot a person and then ask questions later, so they can't be investigating something they do not know."

Acsa spokesperson Nothemba Noruwana denied the workers were unfairly dismissed, saying they were suspended for misconduct.

"Security concerns are the very reason we imposed the suspensions as we felt we were not processing passengers as effectively as we could, but that will only be detailed once we've concluded investigations," she said.

Noruwana also denied that passenger safety would be compromised, saying contingency measures had been put in place.

"The people currently manning the stations are well trained and we are confident that security will not be compromised," she said.

Noruwana could not indicate how long it would take Acsa to finalise its investigations, saying only that it was "prioritising" the matter.

- City Press