Solidarity and Airlink met on Sunday morning to try to prevent the air company’s pilots from striking over wage increases on Monday, the trade union said.
Solidarity’s deputy general secretary Dirk Hermann said on Sunday that attempts over the weekend to reach a settlement had failed.
”After yesterday’s [Saturday’s] talks with them were not successful we had decided to proceed with the strike. But they then called us late on Saturday saying that they had a new proposal to put on the table.
”At the moment I am not aware of what their new offer is as our negotiators are currently locked in a meeting with them. We will only have the full details after the meeting,” said Hermann.
He said the pilots were demanding an increase because their salaries were about 30% below the industry’s average.
”Ninety-five of the 112 pilots of Airlink are members of Solidarity and 100% of our members voted in favour of a strike,” said Hermann.
”If the strike action starts tomorrow [Monday] it will lead to a huge disruption at airports on Monday morning.”
Airlink flies from Johannesburg to more than 10 South African airports as well as destinations in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho and Madagascar.
Solidarity is at present embroiled in six disputes with Airlink.
Apart from the wage disputes at the roots of the impending strike, Hermann said the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration has issued two more strike certificates to the union. The disputes relate to the company’s decision to change the retirement age from 65 to 60 and a decision to cancel the insurance policy that pays out if a pilot loses his flying licence.
”Our members are deeply unhappy with the company’s treatment of its employees and that is why all 95 Solidarity members support the strike action,” said Hermann. – Sapa