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Labour unions South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU), National Union of Metalworkers of SA (NUMSA), South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA), National Transport Movement (NTM) and Aviation Workers Union of South Africa (AUSA) are united in their rejection of Solidarity’s plan to have South African Airways (SAA) placed under business rescue.
 
Early this week Solidarity issued a statement inviting Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene to join its application to place SAA under business rescue.  
 
SATAWU, NUMSA, SACCA, NTM and AWUSA are recognised unions with members at SAA. Solidarity, on the other hand, is not recognised within SAA. The five unions are vehemently opposed to Solidarity’s move and are questioning why the outsider union is involving itself in a matter that could have a devastating impact on their members.
 
The recognised unions want to make it clear they are 100% supportive of SAA CEO Vuyani Jarana, the board and the turnaround strategy currently unfolding at the national carrier. It has hardly been six months since the board and Jarana were appointed to take over the running of SAA but already there is a spirit of openness blowing through the corridors. Jarana has proven himself to be transparent and willing to engage by holding regular meetings with the various unions within SAA. Perhaps it is precisely because Solidarity suspects the current board and CEO are on the right track and might just succeed in turning SAA around – that it is taking this action now. Why else has been quiet all along?
   
Placing the SOE under business rescue will not be in the best interest of the workers and it is for this reason the unions are willing to be cited as co-respondents with SAA in Solidarity’s legal action.

Issued by SACCA