Cape Town - South African Airways employees that belong to new union National Transport Movement (NTM) will strike at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Friday, according to a report.
The union reportedly accused Minister of Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba of refusing to give them organisational rights.
NTM which has 1 300 members, said it represented enough employees to be recognised by the national carrier but have accused Gigaba of favouring the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), according to Eye Witness News.
“What we know is that Malusi Gigaba told them they don’t have to recognise us,” NTM national coordinator Stone Kolotsi told the publication.
But SAA disputed the claims.
SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said the NTM was not recognised as it did not meet certain requirements.
"NTM relies on a claim that its membership is more than 1 300. Their membership is inclusive of employee categories that are not provided for in the bargaining forum constitution.
"They have included managers and contract employees in their head-count. They have not met the requisite threshold of 30%, or 1 220, non-managerial permanent employees," he said.
Tlali said that in similar situations in the past, unions had also been denied recognition.
Friday's strike would not affect flights and not all the union's members would participate, Tlali said.