The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) have gone to court to stop ‘necessary’ job cuts at SAA.
The unions filed an urgent court interdict against the Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) after they announced their intention to reduce the number of employees at the airline along with other cost-cutting initiatives.
A statement from Zazi Nsibanyoni-Mugambi SACCA president and Irvin Jim, Numsa general secretary, goes on to say that they are also seeking an order that requires the BRPs to comply with the terms of the wage agreement signed on November 25, 2019. It stipulates that workers facing retrenchment must be placed on the training lay-off scheme.
“The training lay-off scheme is a viable cost-saving measure that we negotiated to help SAA with its financial crisis. Workers facing retrenchments are placed on training for a minimum period of six months to a year and 75% of their salaries are paid by the SETAs. The BRPs, together with the SAA management, have deliberately ignored this option, and instead, are pushing for mass retrenchments through the cancellation of routes.”
eTNW contacted the BRPs for response and Louise Brugman, spokesperson for Les Matuson and Siviwe Dongwana, said they planned to oppose the interdict. Louise added that a more detailed statement was being drafted.
The unions are expecting the application to be heard at the Labour Court in Johannesburg today.
