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Trade union Solidarity today said that it was still prepared to negotiate with Mango airline’s management about salary increases for its members. This comes after the trade union had informed Mango’s management that its members that constitute 95% of the airline’s flight crew would embark on industrial action this coming Monday at 05:00.

This is the latest development after the airline had declared a dispute with the trade union after the fourth round of negotiations back in August this year, indicating that negotiations had deadlocked. According to Solidarity Deputy General Secretary Deon Reyneke, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) issued a certificate granting Solidarity the right to strike after the two parties could not reach a settlement at this forum either due to Mango management’s unwillingness to negotiate further.

“Solidarity was prepared to engage in further negotiation with the company throughout the process. Notwithstanding the fact that Solidarity is ready to engage in further talks with the airline, it would appear from the company’s actions that the airline is not ready to engage in a constructive negotiating process with its highly qualified pilots,” Reyneke said.

According to Reyneke, the airline’s pilots are dedicated to their jobs. “Solidarity also indicated to Mango that it was prepared to engage in talks with the airline at any given time over the weekend,” Reyneke said.

Issued by Solidarity