The wage strike by pilots affiliated to trade union Solidarity at low-cost carrier FlySafair ended on Friday after parties signed a four-year wage agreement for above-inflation wage increases.
This followed the signing of a formal agreement between airline management and Solidarity on Friday, concluding several weeks of intensive engagement under the guidance of the CCMA.
The strike began last Monday when the union members downed tools over their demand for wage increases.
Solidarity deputy general secretary Helgard Cronje said the wage agreement would see pilots receiving salary increases of 6%, 6.5%, 6.8% and 6.9% respectively, over the next four years.
“These percentages will also apply to annual adjustments of travel and accommodation allowances, as well as the medical allowance. Pilots will also receive additional compensation for any hours exceeding 65 flying hours per month,” Cronje said.
“To soften the impact of the ‘no work, no pay’ rule during the strike and lock-out, pilots will receive a once-off ex gratia payment amounting to 15% of their monthly salary and will be allowed to cash in five days of leave.”
FlySafair said on Friday that the development meant it would begin restoring full capacity to the market.
“With all aircraft returning to active duty and schedules being normalised, the airline anticipates a stabilisation of airfares in the coming weeks as more seats become available across the network,” FlySafair chief marketing officer Kirby Gordon said.
“We are pleased to have reached a constructive resolution that allows us to move forward together. The return of our full schedule will help bring much-needed capacity back to the market, which is essential to restoring fare equilibrium and making travel more affordable again for South Africans.”
Cronje explained: “The new shift roster system is now governed by fixed rules and no longer by so-called ‘soft rules’ that management could arbitrarily adjust. Although FlySafair still maintains that it cannot guarantee pilots one full weekend off per month, negotiations have led to an agreement that pilots will receive at least one 60-hour weekend off during each six-week cycle, with a minimum of nine weekends off per year.”
Pilots who were required to work on their off days, “will be able to reclaim those days in the following month. They will also be allowed to exchange shifts among themselves. In addition, pilots will receive at least 10 days off per month”.
“While the agreement is an important step, there are still some concerns that it only protects the most basic rights of the pilots. It is tragic and unacceptable that an employee has to strike for 12 days to obtain written confirmation from an employer for basic protective measures.
Cronje said if drastic changes did not take place, “this settlement will not prevent an outflow of pilots — something that will be to the great detriment of the company and the country”.
This came as Business Day has learnt that Emiriates would be conducting a roadshow in Johannesburg next week to recruit pilots. Emirates has been approached for comment, which will be added once received.
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