Numsa strike has not affected airport services, says Acsa
Menzies Aviation works closely with the State Security Agency to ensure operations are not disrupted
15 July 2024 - 13:34
byLuyolo Mkentane
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Protesters wave placards at the entrance of Chief Dawid Stuurman Airport in Gqeberha on July 15 2024. Picture: EUGENE COETZEE
Airports Company SA (Acsa) said Menzies Aviation, a global aviation logistics company, worked closely with the State Security Agency (SSA) to ensure airport operations were not affected by a National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) strike.
Disgruntled members of Numsa — the country’s biggest labour union with more than 450,00 members — downed tools on Monday to push for improved working conditions at Menzies Aviation, which operates across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
In response to Business Day questions, Acsa said Menzies Aviation “worked closely with Acsa airport management and the Acsa security cluster, including the [police] and [SSA], leading up to the strike to ensure operations are not impacted”.
“Acsa airport management continues to monitor developments through regular updates from Menzies to ensure that the strike has as little impact as possible on airport operations. However, at present, we can confirm that there are no disruptions to operations across all airports.”
Acsa owns and manages several airports, including OR Tambo , Cape Town and King Shaka international airports.
Menzies Aviation provides executive, air cargo, fuel and ground services as well as passenger checking-in services for airlines such as FlySafair, Qatar Airways, Qantas and Cathay Pacific.
FlySafair chief marketing officer Kirby Gordon said: “We have deployed some of our own team to support Menzies and we’ve not had any impact on operations resulting from the strike. On-time performance today [Monday] has been 97% with the only delay being air traffic control related.”
Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said union members were frustrated by Menzies Aviation management’s refusal to convert workers on permanent hourly pay to permanent monthly pay.
“This situation has a direct and negative impact on workers because if you are on hourly pay, it means you can never be sick. Workers are paid for the hours they work and if they are sick or on leave for any reason, they do not get paid, and this has a direct impact on their source of income,” Jim said
“There are many workers who force themselves to work, even when sick, because they do not want to end up with lower pay.”
When contacted for comment after 11am on Monday, Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said their members were already on the picket lines at OR Tambo International Airport, King Shaka International, Cape Town International, King Phalo (East London) Airport and Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).
“The strike will affect Menzies Aviation’s clients, those are the people who will be affected. It’s not all airlines,” Hlubi-Majola said.“This is an indefinite strike until our demands are met, but the management has asked for a meeting with the union scheduled for today [Monday].”
Menzies Aviation could not immediately be reached for comment.
In the annual review and sustainability report 2023, group CEO Philipp Joeinig said the company had experienced significant growth.
“In 2023, we increased our footprint to 265 airports in 55-plus countries and celebrated our third consecutive year of double-digit revenue growth. We saw a 10.7% year-on-year growth in revenue to $2.2bn.”
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (post IFRS16) were $318m for the full year, with a 15% margin. “This marks an increase from $191m in 2021 and $265m in 2022 (post IFRS16).”
IFRS 16 is a new International Financial Reporting Standard for lease accounting that came into effect on January 1 2019.
“We are proud of the impressive course of growth we have sustained, emerging stronger post-pandemic, and demonstrating our resilience, innovation and strategic focus,” Joeinig said in the report.
“Despite facing challenges and uncertainties in the business landscape, our revenue has steadily climbed, increasing from $1.9bn in 2022 to $2.2bn in 2023. Our expanding market footprint, bolstered by strategic investments and partnerships, has enabled us to reach new heights and tap into emerging opportunities.”
Update: July 16 2024
This article has been updated with comment from Airports Company SA (Acsa) and FlySafair.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Numsa strike has not affected airport services, says Acsa
Menzies Aviation works closely with the State Security Agency to ensure operations are not disrupted
Airports Company SA (Acsa) said Menzies Aviation, a global aviation logistics company, worked closely with the State Security Agency (SSA) to ensure airport operations were not affected by a National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) strike.
Disgruntled members of Numsa — the country’s biggest labour union with more than 450,00 members — downed tools on Monday to push for improved working conditions at Menzies Aviation, which operates across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
In response to Business Day questions, Acsa said Menzies Aviation “worked closely with Acsa airport management and the Acsa security cluster, including the [police] and [SSA], leading up to the strike to ensure operations are not impacted”.
“Acsa airport management continues to monitor developments through regular updates from Menzies to ensure that the strike has as little impact as possible on airport operations. However, at present, we can confirm that there are no disruptions to operations across all airports.”
Acsa owns and manages several airports, including OR Tambo , Cape Town and King Shaka international airports.
Menzies Aviation provides executive, air cargo, fuel and ground services as well as passenger checking-in services for airlines such as FlySafair, Qatar Airways, Qantas and Cathay Pacific.
FlySafair chief marketing officer Kirby Gordon said: “We have deployed some of our own team to support Menzies and we’ve not had any impact on operations resulting from the strike. On-time performance today [Monday] has been 97% with the only delay being air traffic control related.”
Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said union members were frustrated by Menzies Aviation management’s refusal to convert workers on permanent hourly pay to permanent monthly pay.
“This situation has a direct and negative impact on workers because if you are on hourly pay, it means you can never be sick. Workers are paid for the hours they work and if they are sick or on leave for any reason, they do not get paid, and this has a direct impact on their source of income,” Jim said
“There are many workers who force themselves to work, even when sick, because they do not want to end up with lower pay.”
When contacted for comment after 11am on Monday, Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said their members were already on the picket lines at OR Tambo International Airport, King Shaka International, Cape Town International, King Phalo (East London) Airport and Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).
“The strike will affect Menzies Aviation’s clients, those are the people who will be affected. It’s not all airlines,” Hlubi-Majola said. “This is an indefinite strike until our demands are met, but the management has asked for a meeting with the union scheduled for today [Monday].”
Menzies Aviation could not immediately be reached for comment.
In the annual review and sustainability report 2023, group CEO Philipp Joeinig said the company had experienced significant growth.
“In 2023, we increased our footprint to 265 airports in 55-plus countries and celebrated our third consecutive year of double-digit revenue growth. We saw a 10.7% year-on-year growth in revenue to $2.2bn.”
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (post IFRS16) were $318m for the full year, with a 15% margin. “This marks an increase from $191m in 2021 and $265m in 2022 (post IFRS16).”
IFRS 16 is a new International Financial Reporting Standard for lease accounting that came into effect on January 1 2019.
“We are proud of the impressive course of growth we have sustained, emerging stronger post-pandemic, and demonstrating our resilience, innovation and strategic focus,” Joeinig said in the report.
“Despite facing challenges and uncertainties in the business landscape, our revenue has steadily climbed, increasing from $1.9bn in 2022 to $2.2bn in 2023. Our expanding market footprint, bolstered by strategic investments and partnerships, has enabled us to reach new heights and tap into emerging opportunities.”
Update: July 16 2024
This article has been updated with comment from Airports Company SA (Acsa) and FlySafair.
mkentanel@businesslive.co.za
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