After nearly two weeks of grounded flights and tense negotiations, Flysafair pilots have finally reached an agreement with management, marking the end of the longest pilot strike and lockout in South African aviation history.
According to IOL, the breakthrough came on Friday, 1 August, when both the airline and the pilots accepted a settlement brokered by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
The union Solidarity confirmed the deal in an email.
“No winners”
Helgard Cronjé, Deputy General Secretary of Solidarity, said the agreement represents a compromise.
“There are no winners in this process.” Cronjé said.
One of the key changes is a new shift roster governed by fixed rules, replacing the previous “soft rules” system that pilots said allowed management to basically change schedules arbitrarily.
In addition to that, pilots will receive annual salary increases of 6%, 6.5%, 6.8%, and 6.9% over the next four years, a step down from their initial demand for a 10% hike.
“We are pleased to have reached a constructive resolution that allows us to move forward together,” Kirby Gordon, CMO of FlySafair, said, as per Travel News.
“The return of our full schedule will help bring much-needed capacity back to the market, which is essential to restoring fare equilibrium and making travel more affordable again for South Africans.” Gordon also added.
Were you affected by the pilot strike?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
