The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), stands in solidarity with the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) on its decision to go on strike at SAA. Workers at SAA are on strike because of income inequality in the workplace.

Cabin crew at SAA have not received an increase in their meal allowance of US$131 (R1723) since 2011, whilst pilots, who earn generous salary packages, benefit from having their meal allowance of US$170 (R2236) increased annually.

This is blatantly unfair! This practice reeks of racism. The pilots are mostly white, pampered and privileged, whilst the cabin crew are mostly African and Black, and we suspect that this is why they are treated this way. SAA can no longer justify denying workers in this sector an increase in the meal allowance when for the past six years, they have not received it. 

Furthermore the airline cannot claim it does not have the money to remunerate workers when it has the money to pay consulting firms like Seabury R59 million, to do six-months work! As NUMSA we cannot be silent in the face of such injustice. We are currently consulting our members because these issues also affect workers at SAA Technical. We are currently taking a mandate on whether NUMSA will join the strike or not.

On the interdict
On the issue of the interdict which was granted to SAA to interdict the strike, NUMSA will be seeking legal advice on the matter. We believe that the interdict is flawed because, as a recognised trade union at SAA we were not part of the application. SAA had a duty to ensure that all interested parties, had an opportunity to respond, and that did not happen. We are finding out from our lawyers what the next course of action will be.

To the workers at SACCA we stand in solidarity with you! Your struggle is our struggle comrades!

Aluta continua!

 

Issued by NUMSA