Image: Wikimedia Commons
SAA pilots want radical change at the national carrier, and they want it now.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
SAA pilots have issued a warning to the higher-ups of the national carrier. The collective of pilots have indicated that they are willing to give the state parastatal a total of 90 days to get their affairs in order or face strike action.
In a climate where workers in most industries have either made their intentions to picket, or seen them through and actually went on strike, SAA pilots have considered resorting to this measure of resistance to send a stern message to the embattled national carrier.
While it may appear that this came out of the blue, the frustrations shared by pilots in the cockpit have been brewing for quite some time.
Soon after the resignation of SAA former CEO, Vuyani Jarana, the SAA Pilots Association (SAAPA) carried out a survey in an attempt to gauge the perspectives of pilots on how they view conditions at the national carrier.
The results of the survey, taken from a recently published IOL News article, showed that of the 516 SAA pilots who participated (81% of the pilot workforce):
In a statement, SAAPA revealed that numerous engagements with the national carrier’s management, on the pilots’ frustrations, had not yielded the desired outcomes.
Furthermore, the collective warned that if issues such as the glaring skills deficit were not addressed soon enough, pilots would be left with no other choice but to resort to taking industrial action.
In a letter that has been forwarded to SAA’s management, SAAPA listed a range of demands, noting that the regressive nature of the state parastatal, and its inability to function without nepotism and corruption, was going to leave them with no choice but to take matters to the streets.
“It needs to be understood that the decision to embark on industrial action is not one that the pilots of SAA will take lightly. Indeed, if such a strike is embarked upon, it would be for the first time in SAA’s 80-year history,” SAAPA said.
Based on the contents of the letter, which was seen by the cited publication, SAA pilots demand:
If these demands have not been met by SAA within the given timeframe, SAAPA warned, the national carrier would soon be faced with a problem it has never dealt with before — operating an international flight service with no pilots in the cockpit.
Of course, this has been viewed as a warning for now and not a formal declaration of industrial action. Should the demands be met, SAAPA said, pilots would remain committed in turning things around at the state parastatal.
“We trust that the company will consider our demands with the seriousness required. If not, we will be left with no choice. Our pilots have indicated that – if necessary – they are willing to embark on lawful industrial action to save the airline. SAAPA’s intention is not to add to SAA’s problems. On the contrary, our goal is to put an end to the continual pressure on the fiscus in the form of bailouts and guarantees and, ultimately, to help put the airline on the road to recovery,” the collective stated.