Johannesburg - The South African Airways Pilots' Association (Saapa) on Tuesday said it would suspend negotiations with the airline after a rumour circulated that the company would review an arbitration ruling that they could not unilaterally cancel or amend collective agreements.
Saapa spokesperson Captain John Harty said it was a common understanding accepted by Saapa and SAA that the decision of the arbitrators would not be reviewed.
"At the negotiations that were held on Monday, the first since the handing down of the arbitration award, we asked the Vice President Operations to inform us whether or not the company intends to review the arbitration award. He responded saying that the company was looking at the award to see if there were grounds for review and if such grounds existed then they would take the decision on review," he said.
Harty said the company's Senior Counsel was not available for comment on whether the arbitration decision could be taken on review until May 6.
The arbitration came after the company earlier indicated that in June it would cancel or amend terms of employment issues and other collective agreements.
"The Associations need finality on this issue. We simply cannot continue to negotiate under the uncertainty that is being created by the company," Harty said.
Saapa said the very fact that management was now "considering embarking on this course of action is, in our opinion, indicative of the bad faith in which they are conducting these negotiations".
"It was a common understanding that both parties would waive the right to review," Harty added.
Meanwhile, SAA spokesperson Victor Nosi said that the rumour was not correct.
"The rumour is baseless and senior executive members will meet with the union on Thursday to settle the matter," he said.
He said SAA had embarked on a process of making the airline more competitive by looking at labour negotiations.
"We have reached an agreement with ground staff, cabin attendants and now we are currently negotiating with Saapa."
Nosi said the whole objective was "profitability for the airlines".
GUNSHIP
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