SAA, the chop has started
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why is it that I was called to do a flight on my day off when the company has too many pilots. Needless to say, I did do the flight because I'm such a nice guy 
Divinehover, the basic premise of your post is glaringly obvious to only the pilots in SAA, which will continue ad nauseam. And is typical of any parastatal run by a bunch of politically appointed buffoons.
Ah...well, at least we get to spend 98 hours in an awesome piece of machinery, can't fault that, and, oh yeah, the coffee is still good (but not that sh!t in the blue packets) and the hosties keen (...the ugly ones
).
Divinehover, the basic premise of your post is glaringly obvious to only the pilots in SAA, which will continue ad nauseam. And is typical of any parastatal run by a bunch of politically appointed buffoons.
Ah...well, at least we get to spend 98 hours in an awesome piece of machinery, can't fault that, and, oh yeah, the coffee is still good (but not that sh!t in the blue packets) and the hosties keen (...the ugly ones
).
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Eendrag maak mag
What will pull you through is unity, 100% membership in SAAPA, attend every meeting and be pro active. Show these guys that they are dealing with professionals and don’t be intimidated.
It’s tough but these are the times that real character will show. They don’t want to admit it but the crew is the heart of the airline
It’s tough but these are the times that real character will show. They don’t want to admit it but the crew is the heart of the airline
Join Date: Apr 2007
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225 Pilots
According to the seniority system, if it's last in, first out, it would mean the bottom 225 pilots would have to go, a huge percentage of which must be cadets (not sure exactly what percentage). After spending all that cash outlay on training them, the pilot pool would return to a 99% non-disadvantaged group again. Not too sure if the goverment would like that very much.
I would say the SAA pilots have them in a check mate. Go skygods!
I would say the SAA pilots have them in a check mate. Go skygods!
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Jetnut
Ah...well, at least we get to spend 98 hours in an awesome piece of machinery, can't fault that, and, oh yeah, the coffee is still good (but not that sh!t in the blue packets) and the hosties keen (...the ugly ones
98hours is way to much - me 85hours, then big $$$ !!
Awesome machinery -with loads of new ones on order !!
Crayfish and caviar portions is huge !!
Girls -hmm- what goes on trip stay on trip !!
Ah...well, at least we get to spend 98 hours in an awesome piece of machinery, can't fault that, and, oh yeah, the coffee is still good (but not that sh!t in the blue packets) and the hosties keen (...the ugly ones
98hours is way to much - me 85hours, then big $$$ !!
Awesome machinery -with loads of new ones on order !!
Crayfish and caviar portions is huge !!
Girls -hmm- what goes on trip stay on trip !!
Join Date: Sep 2001
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I am rostered for 98.5hrs for Sept.
Personally I don't believe all the doom and gloom. This is NOT a Delta airlines case, their not about to trash the pension fund etc. They are trying to cut costs down to a reasonable level not save it from bankrupcy. The tax payer has deep pockets.
And without saying 'I told you so', but this has been years in coming.
Just a small sacrifice in benefits and a possible salary share scheme will keep everybody employed till the correct numbers are reached. 'B' scales for new employees, different rebate policy etc.
Or take the other route, stare them in the eyes and see who blinks first.
Last edited by Avi8tor; 8th Sep 2007 at 18:46.
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two things.
The retrenchment is supposed to be according to the regulating agreement.
If they cancel all the SAAPA agreements. They can hire at will. this will get around the problem of the cadets and women ( designated group). in that ways its cadets and designated group in, white males out. Go SAA !!
second: you can only lead by example. A few weeks ago khaya was interviewed on summit TV. When asked if he was taking a pay cut. He said NO. Apparently hasn't had an increase in 3 years. I happened to watch the interview No rumour.
The retrenchment is supposed to be according to the regulating agreement.
If they cancel all the SAAPA agreements. They can hire at will. this will get around the problem of the cadets and women ( designated group). in that ways its cadets and designated group in, white males out. Go SAA !!
second: you can only lead by example. A few weeks ago khaya was interviewed on summit TV. When asked if he was taking a pay cut. He said NO. Apparently hasn't had an increase in 3 years. I happened to watch the interview No rumour.
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When asked if he was taking a pay cut. He said NO. Apparently hasn't had an increase in 3 years.
Unilateral action like cancelling the agreements will lead to a PROTECTED strike. Then SAAPA has them over a barrel.
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Not really. If things go to arbitration and SAAPA is issued with a strike certificate, SAA is issued with a lockout certificated. So things could really get interesting.
This is now rumour. Khaya is aiming for this. If he can lock the pilots out, then it becomes a case of . If you don't sign our new agreement you don't work. The vast majority of the guys can't afford to be without a salary for an extended period of time.
This is now rumour. Khaya is aiming for this. If he can lock the pilots out, then it becomes a case of . If you don't sign our new agreement you don't work. The vast majority of the guys can't afford to be without a salary for an extended period of time.
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The airline could never stand for any length of time, the cabin attendant strike proved that. Lockout is NOT an option.
You are quite right, and this has been the problem since SAR&H.
The 'politically appointed buffoons' have allowed the staff to be underworked and over paid. To hide this fact, the 'politically appointed buffoons' have entered into dodgy aircraft leases etc.
This all should have been sorted out back in the days of the sale/lease back deal to safair in the mid/late '90's.
The writing has been on the wall for the better part of 10yrs. SAA has never made a 'real' profit. The unions have decided to poke the pooch till it died.
And is typical of any parastatal run by a bunch of politically appointed buffoons.
The 'politically appointed buffoons' have allowed the staff to be underworked and over paid. To hide this fact, the 'politically appointed buffoons' have entered into dodgy aircraft leases etc.
This all should have been sorted out back in the days of the sale/lease back deal to safair in the mid/late '90's.
The writing has been on the wall for the better part of 10yrs. SAA has never made a 'real' profit. The unions have decided to poke the pooch till it died.
Last edited by Avi8tor; 8th Sep 2007 at 19:23.
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What a load of bull. Khaya and his cronnies should be getting the chop. He got the company in the position its in. With Employment Equity and BEE where you need to employ 3 baffons to do one persons job what do you expect. The Goverment employed these monkeys they must pay, as simple as that. There idea is to close the doors of SAA reemploy all the staff only blacks need apply make the company a BEE identity. Did you not know Sekwale thinks he is the Branson of Africa. I believe the SAA pilots should walk away from this and start there own airline.
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I wonder if Khaya and his team of management idiots have found a way to fly aircraft without pilots? because 225 missing F/O's would be interesting, I suppose 225 Captains would have to be demoted to crew the aircaft.
These clowns are so transparent, its obviousley there big scare tactic, I suggest SAAPA calls them on this and we go to war.
These clowns are so transparent, its obviousley there big scare tactic, I suggest SAAPA calls them on this and we go to war.
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Khaya and his cronnies should be getting the chop. He got the company in the position its in.
While it was the good ol' SAR&H and pilots had the same grade as senior train drivers, life was easy. The aircraft were paid for cash, all the ticket sales had to do was put in fuel and pay salaries. The fleet was new with little maintainance.
Then the boere ran out of money and the 'struggle' ended. They left the new SA with huge debts, Pension funds etc. That meant SAA had to start selling of the aircraft to fund running expenses. This was around the time the overpaid/underworked culture started.
The rest, as they say, is history.
I wonder if Khaya and his team of management idiots have found a way to fly aircraft without pilots?
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This is certainly a very sad state of affairs. The way I see it:
1) This is a problem many years in the making. The writing has been on the wall for a while but no one has been willing or able to do anything about it. I think Avi8tor got it 100% right.
2) An over zealous pursuit of equity targets left the company top heavy and with a management core lacking in the experience and qualification to run an international airline in a competitive world.
3) The fact that government has always been very willing and quick to bail the airline out of financial difficulty meant that the drive for efficiency only equated to window dressing at the best of times.
4) The lack of a requirement for competitiveness (courtesy of taxpayers footing the bill) meant that employees became lax and developed a devil may care attitude when it came to the wellbeing of the company. Exorbitant demands were made and in most case were met. When the CEO and his executive core demands the same salary and perks earned as those running large airlines (an no, SAA is not a large airline in the whole scheme of things), you just know trouble is brewing. The same goes for the pilot group with ridiculous MOP agreement.
This story
and its consequences has been told to millions of children for over 1500 years.
And just to be absolutely clear (seeing that it’s mostly pilots roaming these pages and therefore most likely to go ballistic), I am referring to SAA as a whole and not singling out a specific group of employees.
1) This is a problem many years in the making. The writing has been on the wall for a while but no one has been willing or able to do anything about it. I think Avi8tor got it 100% right.
2) An over zealous pursuit of equity targets left the company top heavy and with a management core lacking in the experience and qualification to run an international airline in a competitive world.
3) The fact that government has always been very willing and quick to bail the airline out of financial difficulty meant that the drive for efficiency only equated to window dressing at the best of times.
4) The lack of a requirement for competitiveness (courtesy of taxpayers footing the bill) meant that employees became lax and developed a devil may care attitude when it came to the wellbeing of the company. Exorbitant demands were made and in most case were met. When the CEO and his executive core demands the same salary and perks earned as those running large airlines (an no, SAA is not a large airline in the whole scheme of things), you just know trouble is brewing. The same goes for the pilot group with ridiculous MOP agreement.
This story
and its consequences has been told to millions of children for over 1500 years.
And just to be absolutely clear (seeing that it’s mostly pilots roaming these pages and therefore most likely to go ballistic), I am referring to SAA as a whole and not singling out a specific group of employees.
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Ketek400 good time to have a roadshow....I think you may get a whole bunch of SAA applicants.
DJ....as I said...you may have started something you may not be able to stop, even though I said I was not interested in the desert, I think I may have seen the light.
DJ....as I said...you may have started something you may not be able to stop, even though I said I was not interested in the desert, I think I may have seen the light.
