Job security is at the core of unions’ action at SAA

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa estimated that between 200 and 300 members attended a march with the South African Cabin Crew Association this morning to highlight alleged looting at South African Airways and to ensure job security. 

“We are not on strike,” said Phakamile Hlubi, acting spokesperson of the metalworkers’ union. 

She said their action was to highlight the looting and corruption at the state airline and, by extension, secure jobs and wage increases for their members. 

“Workers have been denied wage increases because of corruption.” 

“We are giving the company seven days to respond,” Hlubi added. 

Irvin Jim, NUMSA General Secretary addressed the workers at the march on Friday August, 4.

The worker representatives handed over a memorandum to the airline’s management with the following list of demands: 

• That all South African Airways executives who have been named in all the investigative reports, and those implicated in any kind of corruption or irregularity be immediately suspended and that disciplinary action be taken against them; 

• South African Airways Technical has suspended two National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa members and eight South African Cabin Crew Association members for daring to speak out against corruption. They demanded that these “courageous workers” be immediately reinstated and the charges against them must be withdrawn; and 

• “As a result of the financial crisis caused by rampant looting and corruption”, South African Airways was refusing to increase wages for the majority of workers, including the cabin crew, ground staff, cargo staff, and technical staff, “but was willing to continue paying out generous packages to the pilots, who are mostly white and male”. 

“The company has not addressed issues of corruption. Instead, they are victimising employees,” said South African Cabin Crew Association president Zazi Nsibanyoni-Mugambi. 

She added that this was not the first attempt from the workers to call attention to the alleged corruption at the state airline. 

“South African Airways has threatened to derecognise the association after speaking out at the media conference ... It is unfair that employees are being discipline for complaining about corruption,” she said. 

Hlubi added that the airline management had received the memorandum and they were hoping they would communicate with them soon. 

“We need to get rid of [corruption] to ensure job security for tomorrow,” said Nsibanyoni-Mugambi. 

Tlali Tlali, SAA spokesperson, said that “as a company and as a country we are all concerned about the state of unemployment. 

“The company would do everything possible to avert job losses. Retrenchment is always treated as an option of last resort. 

“We are currently focusing on other initiatives that can help turn the fortunes of the business around. The ultimate intention is to grow and not shrink the business.” 

The cabin crew association was not without hope as they welcomed the airline’s appointment of Vuyani Jarana as the new executive. 

“We are happy about his appointment,” said Nsibanyoni-Mugambi. “But we are hoping the chief executive will not get into political battles.”