Long queues formed at the FlySafair counters on Monday morning as the airline grappled with industrial action that grounded some flights.

In an interview with IOL at OR Tambo International Airport, Solidarity’s deputy general-secretary, Helgard Cronje, said operations have been impacted by the labour impasse between FlySafair and the union, which Solidarity said has resulted in workers being blocked from working. Solidarity is the union representing FlySafair’s pilots.

“Technically, it was not our industrial action, but it was the company’s lockout. Be that as it may, what we have determined is that if our members are not there, there is definitely an operational impact on the company.

“Many flights were cancelled, many people were told to buy new tickets or to reschedule their flights. There is a definite operational impact if our members aren’t at work. Technically, as I have said, it wasn’t necessarily Solidarity’s industrial action, because the company locked us out. They are locking us out at this stage.”

Cronje told IOL that on Thursday, Solidarity gave FlySafair notice for a one-day strike, basically to get them back to the negotiation table. 

“The CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration) immediately contacted us, and we responded to the CCMA and said we are willing to speak and go back to the negotiation table,” he said.

“As of yesterday, we had not seen a response from Safair and I have not seen one this morning. In spite of the fact that we announced the strike, they did not respond. What they did is, on Friday, they gave a lockout notice of seven days, which means our members are not able to come and work, because they are not allowed to work by FlySafair.”

One student who opted not to be identified said he was scheduled to travel to Cape Town, but his flight has been cancelled. He has been put on standby for a flight on Tuesday.

“I have been told that there is no flight today and I must come tomorrow (Tuesday). I am not guaranteed a flight, they said I am on standby. I was told to return to the OR Tambo International Airport at 6am. This has been frustrating,” he said.

Business Report has recently reported that FlySafair is poised for significant flight disruptions in the next two weeks following the decision to lock out around 200 pilots for seven days on the back of industrial action starting on Monday.

This drastic move comes on the heels of an overwhelming 90% of the airline’s pilots voting in favour of a strike over a wage dispute, igniting a standoff that could see the aviation landscape of South Africa affected for up to two weeks.

The turmoil began when Solidarity issued a notice of a one-day strike intended to bring the airline back to the negotiation table.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News   

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