Pilots at FlySafair, South Africa’s largest domestic airline, are planning to strike due to dissatisfaction with salary offers and worsening working conditions.
Represented by the trade union Solidarity, which covers nearly two-thirds of the airline’s 211 pilots, over 80% of members rejected FlySafair’s proposed 5.7% wage increase, according to reports.
The union is demanding a 10.5% raise in the first year and inflation-linked increases thereafter.
Solidarity cited growing burnout, a breakdown in trust, and poor communication with management.
“Working conditions have deteriorated, with flight schedules leading to serious exhaustion for our members.
“Pilots have warned that the current situation is not sustainable,” Daily Investor quoted Solidarity’s Deputy General-Secretary Helgard Cronje as saying.
He added that Solidarity’s demands are not unreasonable and call for fairness, respect and transparency to restore trust in FlySafair’s management.
Strike rules are set to be finalised on 17 July, potentially leading to a strike shortly after.
According to BusinessTech, FlySafair’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kirby Gordon, said the airline is proactively adjusting selected flights during this period as a precautionary measure.
He added that affected customers will be contacted directly using the details provided at the time of booking.
FlySafair said the move aims to minimise potential disruption should pilots affiliated with the Solidarity trade union proceed with their planned strike.
Talks between FlySafair and Solidarity broke down after three months of wage negotiations.
A report by Bloomberg said that the potential pilot strike follows a previous challenge faced by FlySafair six months ago, when the airline was found in breach of local ownership laws.
The Department of Transport gave the airline a year to comply or risk losing its operating license, the report said.
FlySafair currently holds about 60% of South Africa’s domestic seat capacity and transports around 30,000 passengers daily.
First published by African Insider
Compiled by Betha Madhomu