Unions file court papers over retrenchments at SAA
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) have filed papers with the Labour Court to halt any steps towards the retrenchment of employees at South African Airways (SAA).
The unions are also seeking an order that the Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) be forced to comply with the wage agreement reached with SAA management in November last year.
READ: Government wants SAA route cuts reviewed
This comes after the appointed Business Rescue Practitioners proposed the scrapping of almost all of the embattled national airline's domestic and certain international flights by the end of February, in order to obtain more funding for the cash-strapped airline.
NUMSA spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi- Majola, says the union have suggested that workers facing retrenchment, rather be placed on a training lay-off scheme.
"The training lay-off scheme is a viable cost saving measure which we negotiated to help SAA with its financial crisis."
"Workers facing retrenchments are placed on training for a minimum period of six months to a year and 75% of their salaries are paid for by the SETA's."
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She adds that they are also concerned about the recent utterances by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe.
"Whilst his frustration with SAA and its loss making history might be justified, he should also be aware that it is the ANC and government who appoints ministers, boards and executives to SAA, all of whom have brought SAA into its current state," concludes Hlubi-Majola.