Page 22 - World Airnews Magazine May Edition 2021

FEATURE

WHAT THE SAAPA

HAS TO SAY

The S189 process ended in August unlawfully intimidating our pilots.
last year, and we were expecting the WAN: CAN WE BACK UP A BIT AND

ocked out of the airline since Decem- remaining pilots (except for 88 which CAN YOU BRIEFLY EXPLAIN THE
Lber with no pay the South African would be retained) to be retrenched. CONTEXT OF THE REGULATING

Airways Pilots Association members are The company proposed, an unlawful AGREEMENT OF 2014 AND WHY
process of selecting pilots who would be

fighting for their lives. They are holding out retained based on race, and the fact that THIS HAS BECOME SUCH A BONE OF
for a retrenchment pay out that they are the company is not prepared to even pay CONTENTION?

entitled to in terms of a long standing reg- the BCEA minimum to the pilots to be GB: Our terms and conditions have been

ulatory agreement that governs the terms retrenched, has caused the negotiations negotiated over many years and are

of renumeration for seniority for career to stall. We have agreed to cancel our benchmarked and comparable to what

advancements. Regulating Agreement, but can only agree other leading airlines have. The company

For the first time in 50 years, union to this on the day after the last pilot is continues to use our Regulating Agreement

members have embarked on strike retrenched as the company is attempting as the scape goat for the mis-management

action. World Airnews editor Heidi Gibson to change our salaries to the new reduced and State Capture that has caused the

many years of losses. If we had flown for
interviewed SAAPA union chair and SAA salaries (which are 50% lower) and then free, we would still be a loss making airline.

captain Grant Back about the ongoing retrench us on those scales.
complex saga involving the airline, the This process has now dragged on for WAN: I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF
department of public enterprises and the about a year. We are now striking to be YOUR DEMANDS IS FOR THIS RA
Business Rescue Practitioners. retrenched by 15 April and to have our TO BE TERMINATED ON THE DAY

WAN: WHAT AN INCREDIBLE Regulating Agreement cancelled the day AFTER THE LAST SAAPA MEMBER
LEAVES THE EMPLOY OF THE
after all pilots that are to be retrenched,

SITUATION FOR THE PILOTS OF leave the company and to be retrenched COMPANY? WHY DOES THE UNION
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS! I in accordance with the new company WANT THIS? IS IT TO PROTECT
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE proposed notice period of three months. YOUR MEMBERS UNTIL THE VERY

CALLED FOR A STRIKE – THE FIRST
TIME IN 50 YEARS. CAN YOU WAN: WHAT DOES SAAPA HOPE TO LAST MINUTE?
BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT ARE YOU ACHIEVE BY THE STRIKE? WHAT IS GB: Yes, we cannot trust the current
STRIKING AGAINST? THE OUTCOME THAT THE PILOTS management and BRP’s to comply with
GB: SAA has been in business rescue since WANT? the rule of law and retrench us according
to our current salary scales. The latest
December 2019. The business rescue plan GB: The company is attempting to unlock proposal from the company is to retrench

called for a reduction in pilot numbers from certain training pilots that they require to us on the new salary scales which are up to
around 700 down to a total of 88 pilots. help train the few pilots that are not part
During the S189 process, 225 pilots opted of the lock-out. Our strike is to show the 50% lower than our current scales. This is

for a Voluntary Settlement Package, leaving company that we want to be fairly and unlawful and the only protection we have

is to hold onto the Regulating Agreement
about 360 pilots remaining. lawfully retrenched and prevent them from until after we are retrenched.

World Airnews | May 2021
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