FlySafair wage dispute: ‘We are not on strike. We were locked out’ - SA Cabin Crew Association

The South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) reaffirms that it is not on strike, nor does it wish to go on strike pending its wage dispute with low-cost airline FlySafair. 

The airline implemented a lockout on Monday, citing that it was unable to reach an agreement with the union. 

RELATED: FlySafair wage talks with staff deadlock, prompting further engagement

However, SACCA president Christopher Shabangu says they had agreed on a 5.7% salary increase.

“When we went to sign the offer at FlySafir [on Monday], on arrival, we discovered that they had included clauses that had not been negotiated with us. We are a member-driven union; we can’t sign something that the members didn’t agree to.”

One of these items includes a ‘lunch-hour sacrifice’, he says.

Per labour law, anyone who works more than five hours is entitled to a one-hour lunch break, but due to the nature of cabin crew work, SACCA wants to sell the hour back to FlySafair.

“It could mean we get off days, or perhaps financial compensation of some sort. That can be augmented in many ways,” says Shabangu.

He adds: “The workers are ready to go to work, the workers accepted their offer, but they decided to be dubious at the last minute. We don’t even have a strike certificate, so we are not on strike. It is unfair for FlySafair not to tell the truth.”

Shabangu confirms that the union will be meeting with the airline again on Thursday, 6 November.

“For us, it is important for people to talk rather than go on a strike."

To listen to Shabangu in conversation with 702 and CapeTalk’s Africa Melane, click below: