SAA wage proposal done in bad faith, claim unions
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) have accused the Department of Public Enterprises of mismanaging the restructuring of South African Airways.
This follows a proposal by the airlines’ business rescuers and the department where workers will receive three months’ remuneration and a 13th cheque, but they must relinquish five months’ salary which is owed to them.
"We reject attempts by the DPE and BRPs to extort money from workers and to exploit their desperation in order to deny them their remuneration,” says Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola.
"We condemn the Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan for this outrageous and unlawful proposal.
"The DPE under the leadership of minister Gordhan has deliberately misrepresented the facts as to why workers at SAA must relinquish the 5-months remuneration which is owed to them."
Hlubi-Majola says claims by the department that this is being done in order to make the airline more sustainable are false.
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She believes the money will be used to fund SAA subsidiaries.
"The plan to turn SAA around is being funded and in terms of the projections, it needs R10.5 billion in total for this process which Treasury allocated in October.
"Workers’ salaries were factored into the total amount, therefore, it is false to claim that employees at SAA must make further sacrifices to ensure the viability of the airline.”
Hlubi-Majola says the business rescuers must implement the turnaround strategy and any modifications needs the creditors’ approval.
"Therefore, these discussions which are taking place outside of this process are deeply concerning for us because they are undermining the business rescue plan and process."
