An agreement to improve working conditions of South African Airways (SAA) pilots, cabin crew and ground staff was announced in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
”This reinforces the confidence we have in the ability of our people,” SAA chief executive Khaya Ngqula told reporters.
The deals were completed with the airway’s cabin crew, ground employees, pilots and aircraft-maintenance staff.
A three-year deal regulating the rest periods and working hours of cabin crew and ground handling employees was reached.
”This agreement will ensure stability in respect of those matters during this term,” Ngqula said.
He said the deal does not include wage increases. However, the management had told unions it would try to enter into a multi-year wage agreement during the 2006 negotiations.
Highlights of the agreement include improved rest periods for cabin crew flying long-haul routes. A rest period after a three-day-long flight will be increased from one to two days.
There will also be improved meal allowances for cabin staff on domestic and international routes. Meal allowances for international travel will be increased from $90 to $107. The domestic allowance has been raised from R135 to R150.
These allowances were last reviewed five years ago, Ngqula said.
Flexible hours for ground staff, including the extension of lunch breaks from 30 to 45 minutes, have been introduced.
Agreements with pilots
He said the management has also reached various agreements with pilots who threatened to down tools earlier this year.
It has been agreed in principle to extend the retirement age of pilots from 60 to 63. This is ahead of a similar proposal being considered by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
Negotiations with pilots will continue, Ngqula said.
There is also an agreement on maintenance of parity — the equitable treatment of SAA pilots in accordance with international best practices — and an agreement on how to deal with seniority with regards to the training of captains.
A wage agreement of 5,4% was concluded with SAA Technical, which employs thousands of workers to maintain aircraft.
Ngqula said the past months have been tough for the airline. However, with it posting a profit this year, it was decided staff should benefit.
SAA cabin crew and ground staff went on strike earlier this year over wage increases and working conditions.
”We are going to have happier employees [and] the competitive edge about this business is service delivery,” he said. ”If we make profits, everybody benefits.”
Union representatives at the press conference said they are pleased with the deal at the moment.
”It’s one of the best considering the current situation of the company,” South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union shop steward Siya Manikivana said.
The packaged deal will cost about R35-million a year.
Ngqula also introduced new executive members recently appointed.
They are Viwe Mlenzana, who is now general manager (GM) of human resources; Captain Collin Jordan, GM of flight operations, Molebatsi Mogai, GM of sales and marketing; Patrick Dlamini, GM of cargo; and Jan Blake, acting chief executive of SAA Technical.
SAA communications GM Onkgopotse JJ Tabane is leaving the company to join the Adcorp group as a chief executive of one of its communication subsidiaries, Grahicor. — Sapa