SAA SATAWU members return to work

SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) members returned to work at SA Airways' technical division on Tuesday, the airline said.

"The company and Satawu yesterday signed an agreement on the terms of returning to work with effect from today [Tuesday]," spokesman Tlali Tlali said in a statement. Satawu spokesman Vincent Masoga said SAA's no work, no pay policy had forced members to return to work. "They have already lost 15 days [worth of pay]," he said. Solidarity and the Aviation Union of SA accepted a 5.6 percent wage increase with a once-off payment of half-a-percent. Satawu sought to hold further negotiations with SAA on behalf of its members, Masoga said. Tlali said: "The employer will not differentiate between employees when it comes to wage increases on the basis of which unions they are affiliated to."

Staff who did the same work would receive the same increase, irrespective of their union. "The company will now unilaterally implement the increase." Tlali said SAA was grateful to those staff members who had made sacrifices to ensure the airline's operations continued as normally as possible."The company would like to thank the law enforcement agencies and all stakeholders for [the] co-operation and understanding they demonstrated during this challenging period," he said.

- Sapa