Trade union Solidarity today said that the airline FlySafair does not want to negotiate in good faith with its flight deck crew about salaries. This comes after the trade union could not reach consensus with the company over a dispute in terms of section 64 (2) of the Labour Relations Act dealing with refusal to negotiate.

According to Solidarity’s organiser for the aviation industry Derek Mans, the company, in a previous draft agreement negotiated in terms of section 64 (2), denied their flight crew their constitutional right to go on strike. “As it is the flight crew’s constitutional right to strike, we cannot agree to the collective bargaining agreement and, as a result, the company is refusing to negotiate further. Solidarity is now waiting for an advisory award to be issued as the company is refusing further negotiation and is not recognising the trade union as a collective bargaining unit,” Mans explained.

According to Mans, it is in the public interest that this dispute be settled sooner rather than later. “The advisory reward will grant the flight crew the right to go on a pay strike. The flight crew is a vital part of the company’s daily operational requirements, and we will not hesitate to exercise our constitutional right to go on strike,” Mans said.

Issued by Solidarity