Aviation Union Threatens Sector-Wide Strike

The union that organised the two-day strike at South Africa Airways (SAA) has threatened industrial sector-wide strike action following the conclusion of talks with the state-run airline without a deal.

SAA cancelled hundreds of flights during the first half of the weekend, saying the strike action cost them R50 million per day.

The National Union of Metalworkers has said it is now in talks with other airlines over further possible strike action.

Workers at SAA are demanding an 8 per cent wage increase and want the carrier to drop its plans to make 900 jobs redundant.

The union has filed a court application to have the technical board of SAA declared “delinquent”.

Successive government bailouts have kept the airline afloat having operated at a loss for the past eight years.