The South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) will approach the CCMA for a certificate to strike at FlySafair.

This as a last-ditch attempt to avert strike action over wages at the company, failed to yield positive results.

The parties met following the move by the employer to lock out cabin crew members over a wage deadlock.

SACCA says it was willing to accept the tabled four-year agreement of between 6% and 7% but says the employer included in the final documents some non-financial benefits that were not bargained for.

FlySafair will also approach the CCMA for intervention under section 150 of the Labour Relations Act to allow mediation.

SACCA is the majority union at FlySafair accounting for 62% of the 800 workers.

The union has been locked in months of wage negotiations at the airline starting its demand at 15% but says the workers had drastically shifted from the initial position to consider a tabled four-year offer of 6% in the first year and 6,9% in the 4th year.

SACCA President Christopher Shabangu accuses the employer of negotiating in bad faith.

“It is important for us to say to you that it is not us, that we are not on strike. The cabin crew members are not on strike. It is the company that has decided to lock out the workers. There are certain issues that still need to be deliberated, are still being dealt, by the Department of Labour. And those include lunch hour sacrifice, they introduce things like your overtime, Sunday pay, injury on duty, pregnancy or maternity issues. Leave and payments of maternity leave.”

The union says the employer moved to lock cabin crew members out in the middle of wage negotiations as an intimidation tactic. SACCA will now finalise picketing rules with a certificate to strike expected on Thursday.

“What’s going to happen right now is that we have a date on the 6th. The date of the 6th is to deal with picketing areas. The 6th and 7th are supposed to be dealing with the picketing areas and then it’s the certificate of non-resolution and the strike certificate will then be issued by the commissioner, or by the CCMA. We don’t know if they say they’re taking away their offer. What are they now going to be giving the workers in terms of the increase? So, we now just look at our legal options and the strike option for us is not out.”

The work stoppage will affect operations at major airports.

At the OR Tambo International Airport, it was business as usual, with the airline saying that contingency measures will continue, not anticipating any cancellation of flights.

The airline has withdrawn its compromise offer, also approaching the CCMA to intervene.

KIRBY GORDON, FLYSAFAIR

“The there is still a multi-year offer on the table, and we have approached the CCMA with an application for a section 150, which is put in place by the CCMA to ensure that it matches a public interest, there is a swift resolution that is managed through mediation managed by them. The main issue on the table at the moment relates to remuneration. There have been some matters and interpretations of the Labour Act, which the Union and FlySafair have agreed to take to the Department of Labour together for interpretation, to ensure that they are being applied legally. We obviously have differing views on the application of those matters,” says the airline’s Kirby Gordon.

Passengers say the sooner the wage impasse is bridged the better, especially with the festive season and G20 Summit fast approaching.

“I am coming in from Japan. Just flew in this morning at 7am, this is when we landed, we got a notification from the Google Use, and there is, it has been some notification of it. So, yeah, my flight is at 2pm. I think I’m okay with that, and it’s, yeah, I don’t know see any problems so far,” says a passenger.

“I travel a lot, but I’ve never experienced such a thing. I just heard it from you now. So maybe, especially in festive season, it’s better to be cautious with all these things, because there are different people who do come into the airport from different cultures, backgrounds, religions, so it’s better to do everything with the love,” says another passenger.

The parties are hopeful of a resolution with further expectations for the Labour Department to intervene on non-financial benefits in line with the Labour Relations Act.

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