SAA strike

[ddd]

Any news?

SAA won't budge on salary offer

Wed, 20 Jul 2005
South African Airways refused to increase its salary offer of five percent, the company said on Wednesday afternoon.

"The management of SAA does not intend moving from its offer of a five percent salary increase, while the unions are demanding an eight percent increase," said SAA spokesperson Sarah Uys.

This was in response to the nationwide "grasshopper" strike by about 5000 SAA ground staff and cabin crew, due to start at 4pm on Wednesday by members of the United Association of South Africa (Uasa). Uasa is demanding an eight percent increase.

No disruptions expected

Uys said SAA was not expecting any disruptions to its flight operations on Wednesday, and contingency plans were in place for operations to run as normal.

"Contingency plans are in place to counter any possible interruptions. These include combining flights, using larger aircraft on routes, and management helping to check passengers in."

She said SAA expected that all outgoing international flights on Wednesday afternoon and evening would depart as scheduled.

Check in times

SAA advised passengers to check in at airports well in advance to avoid any delays and to be informed timeously of any possible changes.

"Passengers scheduled to fly on SAA operated flights, domestic and international, from Thursday are advised to arrive at the respective airports as early as possible on the day of travel to be placed on the soonest available flight to their destination."

Uys said regular updates on the strike would be posted on the SAA website.

Uasa official Gerhard Ueckermann said SAA had originally offered a 4.2 percent increase plus a medical and housing subsidy. On Tuesday SAA offered a five percent increase but without housing and medical benefits.

Talks deadlock

Ueckermann said on Wednesday the dispute had not reached an amicable conclusion as SAA management had not invited them to the discussion table and had been "quite funny" with the union.

On Wednesday morning, SA Airlink said the anticipated strike by SAA check-in staff at Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) would not affect travellers on any flights.

"SA Airlink has set up a contingency plan and is utilising its own staff to man the dedicated SA Airlink check-in counters at JIA," said SA Airlink spokesperson Karin Murray.

Murray said the company's alternative check-in programme will ensure that all its flights departed according to schedule with as little possible inconvenience to customers.

SA Express not to be affected

South African Express Airways also said its flights would not be affected by the pending strike.

"Even though we have an alliance with South African Airways (SAA) and offer passengers access to a global network through this relationship, our staff are not involved in the industrial action," said chief executive officer Siza Mzimela.

He said it had contingency plans in order to limit delays out of Johannesburg because the company's check-in facilities were handled by SAA.

Meanwhile the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) said it was monitoring the situation at Johannesburg International Airport.

"Acsa will lend its support from an airports perspective wherever possible and try to assist passengers so that they are inconvenienced as little as possible," Acsa spokesperson Jacqui O'Sullivan said.

[ddd]

The South African Airways Pilot's Association (Saapa) said it supported the strike by the other SAA unions.

"The overwhelming unity between the various unions is unprecedented. The glaring question... is why so many of the employees at SAA are united in their disapproval of management and its lack of integrity in dealing with labour?" Saapa chairman Captain Piet Taljaard asked on Thursday.

He said Saapa was in a similar position to the other unions and would shortly ballot its members on the issue of industrial action.

The pilots said they would strike if SAA went ahead with its plans to change their employment contracts without consulting them.

SAA spokesman Onkgopotse Tabane confirmed that no meeting took place on Thursday. "There was no meeting because the union went on to issue a notice to strike instead of coming to the meeting."

Tabane said contingency plans were in place for operations to run as normal. "Contingency plans are in place to counter any possible interruptions. These include combining flights, using larger aircraft on routes, and management helping to check passengers in."

SAA advised passengers to check in at airports well in advance to avoid any delays and to be informed timeously of any possible changes.

Regular updates on the strike would be posted on the SAA website.

Meanwhile the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) said on Thursday it was monitoring the situation at Johannesburg International Airport.

"Acsa will lend its support from an airports perspective wherever possible and try to assist passengers so that they are inconvenienced as little as possible," Acsa spokesperson Jacqui O'Sullivan said. - Sapa

[ddd]

Jul 22 2005 07:23:56:740AM:
Johannesburg - All SA Airways (SAA) flights leaving from Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airports were grounded on Friday morning as the airline's employees embarked on a nationwide strike, the United Association of South Africa (Uasa) said.
"From the information we've got no SAA flights have taken off yet from Johannesburg and Cape Town," said Uasa aviation working unit spokesperson Gerhard Ueckermann early on Friday morning.

"No cabin crew have arrived for work. They are standing outside picketing," he said.

Uasa said on Thursday thousands of its members would take part in the strike following a deadlock in pay negotiations.

Uasa is the largest representative union of ground staff and cabin crew at SAA.

It was not yet clear whether members of fellow trade union, the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) were also on strike. The union held talks with SAA on Thursday night.

Both unions demand an 8% increase while SAA is offering 5%.

Uasa and SAA were supposed to meet on Thursday. However, the meeting was cancelled after Uasa gave the company notice of its intention to strike, Ueckermann said.

He said SAA then refused to meet for informal talks.

"They said we acted in bad faith because we gave notice of our intention to strike," he said.

"But they've acted in bad faith since the beginning. They pleaded poverty and then announced they had sufficient profit and last week they started deploying scab labour. They recruited temporary or contract labour without us giving notice."

Ueckermann said the union wanted to resolve the dispute "as soon as possible".

SAA spokesperson Onkgopotse Tabane confirmed that no meeting took place on Thursday.

"There was no meeting because the union went on to issue a notice to strike instead of coming to the meeting."

Tabane said arrangements had been made for operations to run as normal.

"Contingency plans are in place to counter any possible interruptions. These include combining flights, using larger aircraft on routes, and management helping to check passengers in."

Uasa's general manager Andre Venter said on Thursday the "latest developments resulted from various unacceptable actions on the side of management".

He said all incoming and outgoing domestic flights and outgoing international flights would be disrupted.

"But we will try not to disrupt incoming flights from overseas (and African international flights)."

Earlier on Thursday, Satawu general secretary Randall Howard told reporters in Johannesburg: "Satawu stands ready, is mobilised and united together in the struggle to advance the pay of our members.