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The Citizen
a day ago
- Business
- The Citizen
FlySafair pilot strike drags on
While the union initially demanded a 10.5% salary increase, pilots have now moderated their position and are now asking for a figure closer to 7%. The stand-off between FlySafair and its pilots has intensified after more than 90% of unionised pilots rejected the airline's final wage and working conditions offer. This now casts doubt over operations and deepens an already fragile relationship between the flight crew and management. Last week, The Citizen reported that pilots who continue to operate may run out of legal flying time, which could result in more FlySafair planes being parked. A revised offer from trade union Solidarity is expected to be tabled on Monday. A FlySafair pilot told The Citizen that they reckon FlySafair will win the battle but lose the war. 'It's scorched earth,' said the pilot. 'Burn the cities while retreating, just like the Napoleonic wars. That's what this feels like. Management is hell-bent on strong-arming everyone, and it's just getting worse. It started with the lockout, and their endgame makes no sense at all. They're losing money constantly, and they're pissing off their own pilots in the process.' 'They are pissing off the pilots' A cartoon purportedly drawn by FlySafair management is labelled fake by the company. Picture Supplied But the public warfare seems mutual. A cartoon, purportedly drawn by FlySafair Chief Financial Officer Pieter Richards, depicting its pilot body with the headline 'over paid matriculants,' has been circulated on social media. FlySafair's Kirby Gordon said that it was fake. 'We categorically deny that this image was created or circulated by Pieter Richards or any member of FlySafair's management or negotiation team. The claim is entirely false and appears to be part parallel to a broader pattern of misinformation being shared by Solidarity, which sadly does not support negotiations in good faith and undermines efforts to reach a constructive resolution.' Also Read: Strike strain may ground more FlySafair flights next week While the union initially demanded a 10.5% salary increase, pilots have now moderated their position and are now asking for a figure closer to 7%. However, he stressed that salary is only part of the problem. Pilots complain about the rostering system, fatigue and being overworked. Fatigued and overworked The airline, which has been operating on a reduced schedule since the strike began last week, has faced mounting pressure to resolve the dispute as disruptions continue across its domestic network. Pilots, represented by the trade union Solidarity, have refused to back down, citing not only salary concerns but also deteriorating working conditions, excessive fatigue and a lack of trust in management. Another FlySafair pilot said that 'if Safair gets its way in this strike, there's going to be a mass exodus. Qualified, experienced pilots will walk. And once they're gone, they're not coming back.' A colleague at the budget carrier agreed: 'Pilots will desert in hordes. That's the plan for many already. They're forcing us to leave because of the way that we are treated.' Solidarity's Helgard Cronjé said the strike was the result of years of pent-up frustration. 'Working conditions have deteriorated, with flight schedules leading to serious exhaustion for our members. Pilots have warned that the current situation is not sustainable,' Cronjé told media. He said the relationship between pilots and FlySafair's management has 'crumbled,' and accused the airline of taking a clinical approach driven by profit at the expense of the people who keep the operation running. 'Incredible display of guts' Private Facebook group FlyAfrica's Duncan Gillespie echoed the sentiment in a strongly worded statement of support for the striking pilots. 'In an incredible display of guts, courage, solidarity, and resolve. FlyAfrica stands by and supports these brave men and women in their struggle against their oppressive and tyrannical management,' he said. Now Read: FlySafair's Kirby Gordon: 'Mr Nice Guy' does a nice fly
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
FlySafair responds to pilot strike: majority of flights operating, apologises to affected customers
The strike stems from a pay dispute between FlySafair and Solidarity, the union representing a portion of its pilots. FlySafair confirms that while most flights are operating as scheduled, approximately 12% of services have been cancelled on Monday 21 July, due to pilots withdrawing their availability from flights that had previously been confirmed late Sunday night. All affected customers were notified via SMS using the contact details provided at booking. Customers are encouraged to check the Travel Updates page on for the latest information. Airport teams remain on standby to assist with rebooking, refunds, and alternative arrangements. 'We sincerely apologise to all affected customers. We understand the disruption this has caused and are doing everything we can to assist those involved,' says Kirby Gordon, chief marketing officer at FlySafair. What's behind the strike? The strike stems from a pay dispute between FlySafair and Solidarity, the union representing a portion of its pilots. While the union has framed its demand as a 10.5% increase in base salary, the full package, including flight pay, bonuses, and other benefits, equates to a 20.1% increase in total cost to company. By contrast, FlySafair's current offer includes a 5.7% increase on base salary, which is 1.5% above inflation, and when fully costed, represents an 11.29% increase in total cost to company. The airline maintains that this is a fair and responsible offer, especially in an economic climate where most companies are offering increases of around 4%. 'We must balance competitive pay with the responsibility we have to our 1,700 employees, the affordability we offer South African travellers, and the long-term health of the business,' says Gordon. FlySafair captains currently are paid between R1.8 million and R2.3 million annually, placing them in the top 1% of earners in South Africa. Many earn more than members of the airline's Executive Committee. Are pilots overworked? FlySafair captains averaged 63 hours of flight time last month, well below the regulatory limit of 100 hours. For comparison, a typical full-time employee works around 160 hours per month. The airline maintains that its pilot utilisation is compliant and not excessive. Strike escalation and ongoing talks The union initially called for a one-day strike, timed to coincide with the end of the school holidays. In response, FlySafair issued a defensive lockout, a standard labour protocol. Due to the nature of airline rostering, this meant affected pilots would not be rostered for seven days. Solidarity then escalated the action to a two-week strike. FlySafair has not rejected CCMA intervention and continues to engage with the commission and the union in good faith. Commitment to customers and employees FlySafair acknowledges the disruption caused to customers and is working to minimise the impact. The airline also highlights its responsibility to its 1 700 other employees, whose livelihoods are linked to the company's financial sustainability. 'We're committed to resolving this matter constructively and quickly. Our focus is on restoring full operations while ensuring that FlySafair remains a sustainable and affordable option for South African travellers,' says Gordon. Contact: Kirby Gordon [email protected] +27 71 636 0236
The Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald
Flights reduced but stable amid partial pilot strike, FlySafair says
FlySafair says all flights scheduled for Wednesday are operating as planned despite industrial action by a portion of its pilot workforce led by Solidarity. The airline said it is operating 'a reduced but stable schedule'. On Tuesday, it operated 95.2% of its reduced schedule on time, with 'most of our pilots actively at work'. As part of its contingency plans, two of about 120 daily flights operated by the airline will be conducted under a passenger protection agreement with SAA. 'Our focus remains on supporting our customers and restoring full operations as quickly as possible, said Kirby Gordon, FlySafair's chief marketing officer. 'The airline remains committed to resolving the matter constructively and will continue its engagement with Solidarity through the mediation process led by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration this afternoon.' TimesLIVE
IOL News
22-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
FlySafair denies avoiding CCMA mediation as pilots strike over pay
FlySafair on Tuesday said it was operating a reduced schedule,with only two flights cancelled: the 16:45 service from Cape Town to Lanseria and the 19:30 return flight from Lanseria to Cape Town. Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers FlySafair has refuted claims suggesting that it has refused to engage with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), asserting that it has actively participated in all required discussions throughout the process. This comes as FlySafair experienced operational disruptions on Monday as it was forced to cancel 26 flights following the lockout of around 200 pilots who have embarked on industrial action. The pilots are demanding a 10.5% baseline increase alongside adjustments to flight pay and bonuses for the next financial year, and then 4.5% and 4% respectively for the two years thereafter. They rejected the proposed 5.7% salary increase by FlySafair. Trade union Solidarity had accused FlySafair of refusing to accept the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to mediate the dispute in terms of section 150 of the Labour Relations Act but resolving to lock out its pilots for seven days. However, the CCMA was roped in to mediate the dispute on Monday after FlySafair cancelled 13% of its scheduled flights. FlySafair on Tuesday said it remained committed to resolving this matter constructively and will be meeting with the CCMA on Wednesday. The airline said claims that it had refused to participate in the CCMA process were factually incorrect, adding that it has actively engaged with the CCMA throughout the process, as required by law to obtain a protected strike certificate, and continues to participate in CCMA-facilitated discussions in good faith. In a bid to reassure travellers amid ongoing industrial action involving a segment of its pilot workforce, FlySafair announced that all flights scheduled for Tuesday were departing as planned. The airline said it was operating a reduced schedule which was proactively implemented last week, with all customers affected by time changes notified via SMS and email using the contact details provided at the time of booking, well in advance of their departures. It said only two flights were cancelled: the 16:45 service from Cape Town to Lanseria and the 19:30 return flight from Lanseria to Cape Town. According to FlySafair, these passengers have been directly communicated with, and their preferences respected regarding rebooking and refunds. Kirby Gordon, chief marketing officer at FlySafair, expressed empathy for affected customers. 'We know that travel disruptions can be incredibly stressful, especially when plans are made well in advance,' Gordon said. 'We're truly sorry for the inconvenience this has caused and want to reassure our customers that we are doing everything in our power to restore full operations as quickly as possible. Our teams are working around the clock to support affected customers, and we remain fully committed to finding a fair and sustainable resolution.' Meanwhile, Solidarity on Tuesday said the improvement in their quality of life was the main issue for pilots when the mediation process begins on Wednesday. Solidarity said while the pilots were also seeking a reasonable salary increase – including to restore their compensation to pre-COVID-19 levels – improved working conditions were particularly important. However, it is the shift in working conditions that has taken centre stage, particularly following the unilateral implementation of a new rostering system by FlySafair. Solidarity said this change has disrupted established protocols that have governed the pilots' schedules for the past decade, causing a ripple effect on their work-life balance. The pilots have expressed concerns that the new scheduling system limits adequate rest periods. "This new schedule impedes adequate rest periods and undermines pilots' family life. As pilots' workdays often start before sunrise and last until late at night, sufficient rest is of utmost importance for the safety and wellbeing of pilots and passengers alike," the union said in a statement. "In addition, pilots work seven days a week on a rotating schedule, which significantly impacts their family life compared to those who work standard office hours. In the upcoming meeting under the auspices of the CCMA, it is therefore essential for FlySafair to demonstrate a willingness to ensure more flexibility in the scheduling system." Solidarity has encouraged FlySafair to show a commitment to flexible scheduling. Proposed solutions from the pilots include a guarantee of at least one weekend off within each five-week cycle to allow proper rest and family time, the ability to exchange shifts among colleagues to accommodate personal and family responsibilities, and compensation for any flights undertaken on their days off in subsequent schedule cycles. BUSINESS REPORT
Mail & Guardian
22-07-2025
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
FlySafair strike could go up to two weeks
The strike by FlySafair pilots could last as long as two weeks. (Wikimedia commons) The strike by The strike kicked off on Monday and was only meant to last a day, but after 90% of pilots represented by Solidarity decided the join the action, the airline 'decided to escalate the dispute and indicated that they would lock out the pilots for a period of seven days', the union said in a statement. 'Disruptions could last up to two weeks and The airline hit back at what it called the union's 'aggressive stance', saying it had implemented the defensive lockout after receiving notice of a strike to reduce flight disruptions. 'When employees give strike notice, they can legally stop and start work in short bursts, which can cause repeated disruptions until a deal is reached,' Kirby Gordon, the chief marketing officer at FlySafair, told the Mail & Guardian . He said anyone wanting to return to work could do so, but would be added into the next roster cycle. The claim that 90% of pilots joined the strike was 'entirely untrue', Gordon said. 'There is no way we would have been able to operate 150 flights yesterday [Monday] with 10% of our crew, so we need to be careful of their conjecture. Solidarity only represents about two-thirds of pilots, so 30% were not participating in the strike from the start,' Gordon said. 'Of those that are union members, a significant portion have chosen not to participate in the strike. So while there are many pilots staying away at the moment, the majority are actually at work.' On Tuesday, the airline said all flights on its schedule were departing as planned, but two had been cancelled. It added that its reduced schedule, implemented as a contingency last week, was in effect. FlySafair has rejected Solidarity's demand for a 10.5% increase on base salaries, as well as additional flight pay and bonuses, saying the sum of all the demands would amount to more than a 20% increase in overall cost to the company — 'an unsustainable escalation for any company'. The airline said it could only offer a 5.7% increase on base pay, which is 1.5% above inflation. 'This already substantial offer was made including other benefits — including a flight pay based bonus — which brings the total increase to 11.29% on a cost to company basis,' FlySafair added. 'This offer was designed to balance the other 1700 employees of the airline and the sustainability and resilience of the company with the demands of the pilots.' The parties are due to meet at the The airline's captains earn R1.8 million to R2.3 million annually — placing them within the top 1% of earners in South Africa, The airline says captains spent an average of 63 hours last month in the cockpit flying passengers, 'well within regulatory limits set by the Solidarity disputes the 'open' roster system the airline implemented earlier this year, saying it interferes with the pilots' down time because it is less structured and expects them to be on stand-by. The union wants pilots to be guaranteed at least one three-day weekend off every five weeks, a minimum of two consecutive days off per roster cycle, and the ability to swop single off days with other pilots. The union also wants all rostered off days to count toward pilots' annual leave allocation, said Helgard Cronje , the general secretary of public industry at Solidarity. 'It does make the roster to a certain extent more fixed, but it's still an open roster in essence. We get that the operational flexibility is important for the long-term sustainability of the company, but essentially there should be a balance. It cannot be in total control of the company and there should be some protection measures for the pilots,' he said. The airline insists the system is in line with the global airline industry and has been implemented by all other airlines in the country and 'allows pilots to receive their full monthly rosters by the 20th of the preceding month, enabling personal planning and scheduling'. 'Attempts by Solidarity to alter or limit this system would strip away its key benefits, undermining FlySafair's ability to compete with other airlines and maintain cost-effective operations,' it said.
