Washington, DC — Workers with the multinational airline, Air Afrique, began an indefinite strike this week to demand payment of salary arrears. A few months ago, West African leaders and the French government were drafting a plan to save the airline from financial ruin; but in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the United States, and their impact on commercial air traffic worldwide, Air Afrique faces a grim future.
Talks to resolve the issue of salary arrears failed Thursday because the company offered back-pay of only one and a half months instead of the full three months claimed by employees. There is also the outstanding issue of pension and social security contributions which, according to the workers, have not been paid for three months.
The strike, now in its fifth day, has brought Air Afrique's already tiny fleet to a standstill. Two weeks ago, the cash-strapped airline was forced to give up half of its fleet, two Airbus and two Boeing 737 aircraft.
On Thursday, employees called for urgent implementation of a deal concluded with the French government to keep the company afloat. The deal would keep a portion of the share capital in the hands of Air Afrique staff and West African governments but would leave the largest stake in the hands of Air France, making it the biggest single shareholder in Air Afrique.
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, who says the Air France agreement will come into effect in a few weeks, is optimistic that a solution to the current industrial dispute will be found soon.
But Air France, like many other international airlines, has its own difficulties following the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington and may find it tough to meet Air Afrique's needs.
Some of the staff argue, further, that the newly-appointed Director General, Marcel Mensah Kodjo, made an error of judgement when he decided to retain some of the old managers. "We contest this choice," said Amadou Ndiaye, leader of the union; "Marcel Mensah Kodjo has kept the same people who led the company to financial ruin."
The events of September 11 have contributed directly to the company's problems. For security reasons, the US authorities banned Air Afrique from flying to New York for over two weeks after the attacks. The hiatus cost Air Afrique more than a million dollars in revenue, thus forcing it further into financial hardship.
