FlySafair brings pilot strike to an end as new crisis looms

After weeks of back-and-forth and a 12-day strike, FlySafair and its pilots have reached a settlement following deliberations with the CCMA.

However, Solidarity has warned that the airline is not out of the woods yet, and significant change needs to take place to prevent an exodus of pilots.

This comes after around 90% of FlySafair’s pilots affiliated with the trade union Solidarity agreed to go on a strike.

After Solidarity gave notice of the strike, which was initially planned for one day, FlySafair decided to impose a seven-day consecutive lockout of the pilots. This prompted Solidarity to extend the strike to 14 days.

Now, after 12 days of lockout and strike action, an agreement has finally been reached through the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration’s (CCMA) proposed settlement. 

This brings an end to the longest pilot strike and lockout in South African history. 

Solidarity Deputy General Secretary Helgard Cronjé said the CCMA-led proposal, accepted by both parties, was the closest middle ground they could reach. 

“There are no winners in this process,” he said. As part of this agreement, a new shift roster system is governed by fixed rules and no longer by so-called “soft rules” that he claimed management could arbitrarily adjust.

FlySafair still maintains that it cannot guarantee pilots one full weekend off per month. However, Cronjé said some concessions have been made.

He said negotiations have led to an agreement that pilots will receive at least one 60-hour weekend off during each six-week cycle, with a minimum of nine weekends off per year. 

In addition, pilots who are required to work on their days off will be able to reclaim those days in the following month. 

They will also be allowed to exchange shifts among themselves, and pilots will receive at least ten days off per month.

Regarding remuneration, pilots will also receive salary increases of 6%, 6.5%, 6.8% and 6.9% respectively over the next four years. 

These percentages will also apply to annual adjustments of travel and accommodation allowances and the medical allowance. 

Pilots will also receive additional compensation for any hours exceeding 65 flying hours per month.

FlySafair not out of the woods yet

“While the agreement is an important step, there are still some concerns that it only protects the most basic rights of the pilots,” Cronjé said. 

“It is tragic and unacceptable that an employee has to strike for 12 days to obtain written confirmation from an employer for basic protective measures.”

He argued that this agreement could have been reached far earlier, and the strike could have been avoided had FlySafair management made the same concessions regarding the roster at that time.

“Management’s obstinance in response to the reasonable appeals of their pilots led to conflict and losses for all parties. It also caused severe disruption for passengers and the public,” he said.

In addition, to soften the impact of the “no work, no pay” rule during the strike and lock-out, FlySafair pilots will receive a once-off ex gratia payment amounting to 15% of their monthly salary and will be allowed to cash in five days of leave.

Solidarity extended its gratitude to the two senior CCMA facilitators, Duduzile Madubanya and Mahmood Fadal, for their dedication and willingness to work long hours to finally bring the parties across the finish line with their proposed settlement.

However, Cronjé made an urgent appeal to FlySafair to change how it handles labour relations. 

“The pilots’ input during the finalisation of the agreement only confirmed how little trust they have in FlySafair’s management,” he said. 

“Solidarity has negotiated and concluded hundreds of agreements but has never experienced anything like this.” 

“If drastic change does not take place, this settlement will not prevent an outflow of pilots – something that will be to the great detriment of the company and the country.”