SAA STRIKE UPDATE

Thursday, 21 July 05, 19h00
[SAA ready for looming industrial action

JOHANNESBURG. 21 July 2005. South African Airways (SAA)’s is fully prepared for industrial action by unions, SATAWU, AIWU and UASA who represent the airline’s cabin crew and ground staff.

The unions declared that they would begin industrial action tomorrow, Friday, 22 July at 04h30.

SAA has not experienced any flight disruptions since the unions initially announced they would begin industrial action on Wednesday, 20 July.

SAA management did not meet with the union representatives today for further negotiations but to discuss picketing rules. Dedicated areas have been allocated by the CCMA where strikers will be allowed to picket.

Contingency plans are in place to counter any possible interruptions. These include combining flights, using larger aircraft on routes, and management helping to check passengers in.

SAA management has already been deployed around the country at all airports since yesterday to ensure operations continue as usual.

However, SAA advises passengers to turn up for check-in at the airport well in advance to avoid any delays and to be informed timeously of any possible changes.

Passengers scheduled to fly on SAA operated flights - domestic and international from tomorrow are advised to arrive at the respective airports as early as possible on the day of travel to be placed on the soonest available flight to their destination.

If a passenger is able to fly an alternate day than originally booked, it is strongly advised they change their booking through the following channels:

Call Centre helpline - +27 11 978 2888. All fare types, ticketed on SAA’s network, for travel on affected flights during the strike period, may be changed without penalty, subject to various conditions.

If the booking was originally done online through flysaa.com, an email with the changes should be forwarded to the following address: web_ops@flysaa <mailto:web_ops@flysaa>

SAA has just implemented state-of-the-art reservations service where by passengers call in on +27 11 978 1111 (option 1) and check whether their flight is affected without speaking to an operator.

If the present online booking falls into the dates affected by the strike, SAA will honour the change at the original price paid.

SAA will continuously communicate with passengers through the media, via email, SMS and with telephone calls. Regular updates on whether the strike action goes ahead and the extent of it, will also be posted on the SAA website.

Background

SAA unions representing cabin crew and ground staff, SATAWU (South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union, AIWU (Airline Industry Workers Union) as well as Uasa (United Association of South Africa, gave the airline notice that they intend to go on strike from Wednesday, 20 July from 16h00.

The intended strike follows a deadlock in wage negotiations. The management of SAA does not intend moving from its offer of a 5% salary increase, while the unions are demanding an 8% increase.

Issued by South African Airways Limited

Bummer.

I just talked to my daughter who is going to a summer school in Durban. She said the word there is that this will be a 3 day strike.

All evening flights left today with no problems. The action will start at 04.30a 7-22

Lets wait and see what’s going to happen

Flight from Atlanta arrived 10 minutes late, and SAA connect flight to Livingstone took off on time.

All looks fine

Peter

July 22, 2005, 09:00

SAA flights between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban have been delayed indefnitely. This is according to Sarah Uys, an SAA spokesperson. SAA's flights to Lusaka, Nairobi and Entebe have also been cancelled. Reports say commuters have been waiting for flights since 5am today. Uys says they are monitoring the situation and will decide what action to take later in the day.

Long queues have also formed at Durban International Airport as passengers wait to be accommodated on local flights on other airlines. Passengers seem to be quite happy with the situation, saying alternative arrangements have been made and they have not been left stranded. SAA flights will take off once sufficient cabin crew are available.

Meanwhile, three international SAA flights have now been cancelled due to the airline staff strike. The flights are to the African cities of Lusaka, Nairobi and Entebe.

"No sir, I don't like it"

I leave on August 21 out of Atlanta headed to Jo'burg. I hope this strike business gets straightened out by then.

-Bob F.

Friday, 22 July 2005, 13h45
SAA recovering operations – passengers flown despite industrial action

SAA cancels flights due to strike action

Johannesburg. 22 July 2005. South African Airways (SAA) has been able to fly thousands of passengers since industrial action started early this morning.

SAA has managed to, despite the industrial action by members of its cabin crew and ground staff, to operate a number of its flights.

"We are working with our own available resources and we have enlisted the help of other airlines. Industrial action intended to ground our operations have not succeeded and we are continuing our concerted and dedicated efforts to get our passengers to their destinations."

"At this stage we advise our customers to postpone their travel arrangements where possible over the next few days. For those who have to postpone or cancel their travel we will accommodate them on flights normal operations resume," says Kyrl Acton, SAA Chief Operations Officer.

SAA is monitoring the strike situation and carrying out with its contingency plans following cabin crew failing to turn up for flights and absent ground staff.

Since this morning out of 96 scheduled flights, SAA cancelled 72 domestic and regional flights and international.

SAA has accommodated international arriving passengers whose domestic flights have been cancelled at hotels.

International and Regional flights cancelled:

SA040/041 Johannesburg-Victoria Falls-Johannesburg
SA188/189 Johannesburg-Dar Es Salaam-Johannesburg
SA170/171 Johannesburg-Lilongwe-Johannesburg
SA205/206 Johannesburg-Sao Paulo-Johannesburg
SA074/075 Johannesburg-Windhoek-Johannesburg
SA190/191 Johannesburg-Mauritius-Johannesburg
SA254/255 Johannesburg-Mumbai-Johannesburg
SA182/183 Johannesburg-Nairobi-Johannesburg
SA160/161 Johannesburg-Entebbe-Johannesburg
SA058/059 Johannesburg-Lagos-Johannesburg

Domestic flights departed without disruption:

SA405 Johannesburg-Port Elizabeth-Johannesburg
SA142 Johannesburg-Maputo
SA307 Johannesburg – Cape Town
SA332 Cape Town- Johannesburg
SA308 Cape Town- Johannesburg
SA670 Durban – Port Elizabeth
SA671 Port Elizabeth - Durban
SA069 Lusaka - Johannesburg
SA601 Durban - Cape Town
SA530 Durban - Johannesburg
SA528 Durban - Johannesburg
SA400/401 Port Elizabeth - Johannesburg
SA025 Harare - Johannesburg

The flight from JNB to Washington has been cancelled tonight -
the Flight from Washington to JNB on 7/23 has been cancelled -

SAA will be protecting clients - they will be advising shortly -

Wondering if SAA will be able to feild a crew for this PM ATL departure. Any bets?

I'm scheduled to fly out out of ATL next Tuesday morning. My fingers are crossed hoping this thing is resolved (enough) to get on that plane.

Kathi- Our posts crossed in cyber space. How can SAA protect a passenger if all other options are sold out ?

SA 209 JNB TO ATL and SA 207 JNB TO DULLES for tonight have been canceled.
They will be having an update in about an hour.

What a bloody mess!!!! I don't have a dog in this hunt but I doubt there's enough capacity to "protect" people on another airline wihch means a SAA flight is the only option. Wonder how they are going to get everyone over there??

Thanks for the updates Kathi.

Phil

Crane,
Reservations control for the various airlines are alerted hours prior and they zero out flights -
So it would look like everything is sold out...in the travel agents system and the internet

This gives SAA the ability to protect people on other airlines

Kathi,

I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to keep us updated on this issue with your posts!!

Thanks!!!!
-Bob F.

Thanks Kathi. This sounds like a major cluster for all of you in yhe travel industry

IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL INFORMATION FROM SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS
Due to labor action in South Africa, South African Airways flights to and
from SAA gateways in Atlanta, Washington, and New York have been cancelled
for Saturday, July 23rd, Sunday, July 24th, and Monday, July 25th, 2005.

South African Airways staff will do all possible to contact those passengers
traveling during this time period. We encourage our partners to contact
their clients and advise them against proceeding to the airport during this
labor situation.

In order to minimize the passenger disruption SAA will offer ticketed
passengers one of the following options:
1. A full refund for their ticket(s) with no penalty.
2. Rebooking travel for a later date with no penalty.
Alternatively, in order to facilitate accommodating displaced passengers,
partners can rebook their clients through Europe on Delta and their partner
airlines by quoting IATA resolution 735-D. Delta Airlines is aware of our
current operational situation and encourages anyone booked on DL code to
South Africa to contact Delta International Reservations at 1-800-241-4141.
Delta will do all they can to assist with rebooking these passengers.

We understand that this is a challenging situation, and we appreciate your
help and partnership during this time.
Thank you,
Your South African Airways Team

Kathi,

I'm counting on you to get me to Windhoek next Friday...if you need to speak to me over the weekend about any chance to re-route call me. I'll email you my home numbers.

Thanks, Darin Wyatt

SAA was boarded for the return flight to the States and the Union stopped the flights

SAA put people up at the Holiday Inn in Pretoria

This bites. I was supposed to leave on Monday. Kathi, any insight as to whether the

quote:

three-day strike as mentioned above

is what they've planned or is that idle speculation.

Hunt4fun,
Call your travel agent that you booked with and get them to put you on the Tuesday Flight!!!!

As long as he doesn't bump me from the Tuesday flight we're all good. I'm not even sure I'll get on the plane from Albuquerqe to Atlanta on Monday unless this thing is resolved...

Thanks Kathi - they're working on that. I guess I'm lucky that I'm not stranded at an airport between here and there...

Has anyone heard anything?

Still on strike....
Flying people out of JNB on BA, KLM.

Anything on flights out of Atlanta? I'm supposed to be on a flight from NM to ATL tomorrow AM, but don't want to take it if I'll be stuck in ATL. Delta, who the flight was booked through (air miles), was no help...

Desert- I was in the same boat, only on Tues. Had to BUY a ticket! Gosh I hate that. Talk to Kathy- maybe she can get you out on BA. I am going to redeem my "free" ticket for the miles and do something else before Delta goes in the tank.When the strike does end, it will probably take a number of days to get back to normal.Good luck.

Well, unfortunately it's these tickets or nothing at this point in the game - I use these or stay home. I just got off the phone with Delta and they told me SAA had not cancelled Tuesday's flight (yet), so I should show up ready to go. They told me that if SAA cancelled, they would make alternate arrangements to get me to JNB as scheduled. Who knows, I might get to see more of this little planet. Anyway, I'm off to catch the plane to ATL in a couple hours. Betting on Delta/SAA will probably be the biggest risk of the trip . I'm crossing my fingers as I head off for a short nap before the 3-hour drive to Albuquerque. I figure the worst that can happen is I'll have to spend an extra day or two in Atlanta...

July 25 2005 at 08:56AM

A trade union has rejected a revised salary offer from South African Airways (SAA) as ground and cabin staff strike for a fourth day, SABC news reported on Monday.

The United Association of SA (Uasa) rejected an offer of a five percent increase and a once-off payment of R1600.

SABC quoted fellow trade union SA Transport and Allied Workers Association as saying it would make a decision on whether to accept or reject the offer by 9am.

Meanwhile, SAA has sent eight planes to collect stranded passengers at various international destinations as a ground and cabin staff strike enters its fourth day.

Quoting SAA spokesperson Onkgopotse JJ Tabane, SABC news said the planes had been sent to Atlanta and Washington in the US, Zurich in Switzerland, Britain and Frankfurt, Germany.

Everybody has said I should consider myself lucky to be coming in with another carrier...I dont think it will matter. I think the ripple effect will have the whole airport,baggage,saps,customs in a mess

I guess since the level of service has declined so much, the flight attendants think they deserve a raise? Not im my opinion. On my last flight in May, the flight attendants spent most of their time conversing amongst themselves. It seemed almost like an imposition to ask them for some water. Two years ago, my wife and I were highly impressed with the level of service. Not this time. We will go another route next time.

SAA strike: Pay talks resume

Johannesburg, South Africa


25 July 2005 01:43

The United Association of South Africa (Uasa) and the South African Transport
and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) began a meeting with South African Airways (SAA) at noon on Monday in the latest effort to break a pay deadlock, Uasa said.

Both unions had rejected an earlier offer of a 5% increase and a R1 600 cash payout in the dispute that has seen SAA cancel international and regional flights with only a few domestic flights operating.

The unions had been seeking 8% but Uasa general manager Andre Venter said his union went into the noon meeting with a new mandate.

Leon Grobler, chief operating officer of Uasa, said in a statement: "We are not prepared to say what our new mandate will be at this stage, but we are hopeful that our preparedness to move away from our previous position will play a catalytic role, which could facilitate an agreement."

A Satawu spokesperson could not confirm the meeting, but did say that the union was hoping to be able to engage the airline in further talks.

SAA earlier on Monday sent planes to New York, Washington, Frankfurt, Paris and the United Kingdom to pick up stranded passengers.
This was in terms of a pre-strike agreement that staff already in an international country would work on the return journey, SAA spokesperson Onkgopotse JJ Tabane said.

Order appeared to have returned on Monday to Durban International airport after initial chaos caused by the strike.

"SAA does have flights in and out of Durban today, although it's quite erratic," said Colin Naidoo, spokesperson for Airports Company South Africa.

Like other major South African airports, the Durban airport on Friday was the scene of long queues and frustrated passengers waiting to get standby seats on other airlines.

"SAA passengers have been encouraged to make other travel arrangements," said Naidoo.

SAA is trying to place its customers on flights by other airlines, "but those companies are giving priority to their booked passengers first", he said. -- Sapa

July 25 2005 at 07:58AM

By Alameen Templeton, Siyabonga Mkhwanazi, Shaun Smillie and Eleanor Momberg

There's no end in sight to the biggest strike in South African Airways' history and no relief for thousands of frustrated passengers affected by it.

Striking cabin crew staff were due to reject SAA's revised wage offer on Monday.

SAA is keeping mum on the cost of the strike, which is mounting rapidly.

'I'm never coming to Africa again'
Spokesperson Onkgopotse JJ Tabane said the airline still needed to account for everything: "We don't want to speculate.@

However, a spokesperson for the United Association of SA strikers, Maryna Kleynhans, said on Sunday the strike was estimated to be costing costing SAA R24-million a day, "not taking into consideration hidden costs such as putting up passengers in hotels".

The disruption at SA airports is likely to continue into Tuesday at least, with SA Transport and Allied Workers Union general secretary Randall Howard saying on Sunday night that most workers at airport pickets had rejected SAA's latest offer.

The members' response could change, however, after more had attended pickets and responded to the offer this morning.

Although management had not budged on its initial five-percent offer, it had suggested expanding it to include housing allowances and medical aid contributions, backdated to April 1, Howard said.

SAA passengers had praise for the few staff members who turned up for work
On Sunday night there was chaos again at airports as passengers booked on SAA flights waited to see whether flight crews would arrive.

"I'm never coming to Africa again," said US pensioner Jeannette Lloyd, struggling to find a flight back to Pittsburg. She had run out of medication for her arthritis and was in pain after spending the whole day at the airport.

Colby Vick, who was hoping to get home to Houston, Texas, said: "They told us that if the crew showed up we would be able to take off, but they haven't so I guess we'll be here for the night."

A disgruntled Johannesburger said he had hosted friends from the UK through the weekend because their tour group was unable to return to London on Friday night on the SAA flight.

Only after standing in queues for several hours did they discover that they needed a letter from SAA endorsing an alternative flight.

However, other SAA passengers had praise for the few staff members who turned up for work.

"They've really been great. It's not their fault - they've been extremely helpful in keeping us up to date," said Irene Hart, who was trying to fly to Cape Town.

Nompumelelo Khanyile was uncertain whether she would be flying to the Philippines to attend a conference that started on Sunday.

"I was supposed to fly at 12.40 today and I am now on standby on Cathay Pacific," said a dejected Khanyile. She said she could not afford to miss the conference because she was expected to report back to her employers.

"If I cancel I will have wasted $2 000 (R13 200) in air fares."

For other passengers, the long wait was giving them pain of another kind.

"I've been here for three-and-a-half hours and my arse is getting really sore," said Daniel Bedforth, who was trying to get his sisters back to Cape Town.

It wasn't only passengers in South Africa who were affected. Ronan Jackson, marketing director of Auction Alliance, is stuck in New York where he collected an International Marketers of the Year award on behalf of his company.

He said from JF Kennedy airport on Sunday night that SAA had said the next available flight would be on August 2.

"They said they would try to find flights for us via Europe but meanwhile are putting us up at a hotel. Everyone is highly irritated. This is a heavy inconvenience."

The Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) has appealed to travellers not to go to airports unless their flight has been confirmed.

Acsa spokesperson Jacqui O'Sullivan said airport lounges and waiting areas were full of angry customers desperately trying to get to their destinations and this was stretching capacity.

But Tabane said domestic travellers had no choice but to go to the airport if they wanted a chance of catching a flight.

Alternative arrangements depended on excess capacity being taken up by other airlines or on a few SAA planes landing to take them aboard.

Alternative arrangements were subject to an hour's notice, which meant passengers had to be at the airport when the arrangements were finalised.

Tabane said passengers phoning from home had no hope of driving to the airport and checking in within an hour.


This article was originally published on page 1 of The Star on July 25, 2005

OPERATIONAL UPDATE FOR SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS
July 25, 2005
Dear travel partner,
This past weekend, SAA had to cancel all flights to/from North America due
to labor action by our cabin crew and ground staff in Johannesburg. Our
staff has been working throughout the weekend to re-accommodate our clients
with the best options available during this trying time. In order to
alleviate some of the backlog at our gateways, South African Airways North
America has been able to secure two aircraft to carry passengers from the US
to South Africa. The schedule for today, Monday July 25, 2005 is as follows:

Schedule for Monday July 25, 2005
SA208 IAD ACC JNB 0845 --- 0740 B747-400 Scheduled
SA210 ATL SID JNB 1045 --- 1020 A340-600 Scheduled
SA204 JFK DKR JNB 1755 --- 1705 A340-300 Cancelled
Schedule for Tuesday July 26, 2005
SA208 IAD ACC JNB 0845 --- 0740 B747-400 Cancelled
SA210 ATL SID JNB 1045 --- 1020 A340-600 Cancelled
SA204 JFK DKR JNB 1755 --- 1705 A340-300 Cancelled
At present time we cannot confirm which other scheduled operations will be
arriving or departing among our network of International, Regional and
Domestic operations. We hope to have more information on our operations for
Wednesday July 27th, later today.

As communicated on Friday, South African Airways will continue to assist in
re-accommodating all passengers that are affected by our operational
disruption. Again, we do encourage our partners to contact their clients and
advise them against proceeding to the airport during this labor situation.

In order to minimize the passenger disruption SAA will offer ticketed
passengers one of the following options:
1. A full refund for their ticket(s) with no penalty.
2. Rebooking travel for a later date with no penalty.
Alternatively, in order to facilitate accommodating displaced passengers,
partners can rebook their clients through Europe on Delta and their partner
airlines by quoting IATA resolution 735-D. Delta Airlines is aware of our
current operational situation and encourages anyone booked on DL code to
South Africa to contact Delta International Reservations at 1-800-241-4141.
Delta will do all they can to assist with rebooking these passengers.

South African Airways does not have a timetable for resolution of this labor
action at this time. We will continue to keep you posted with the latest
information once it becomes available. Thank you for your continued support
and patience during these trying times.

Your South African Airways Team

Kathi- I have friends trying to make the Atlanta to Joberg flight today. Their ultimate destination is Windhoek. Is SAA flying from Joberg to Windhoek?

John

As of today Tues 7-26 flight from JNB to WDH cancelled.........

Bummer. What a goat rope.

More and more I like the idea of Qantas west from LAX . . .

SAA, unions agree on CCMA help
Jul 25 2005 06:22:47:250PM

Govt appeals for resolution

SAA pay talks resume

SAA strike costs escalating

No light for SAA passengers

SAA takes off in Durban

Union rejects SAA offer




Johannesburg - South African Airways has agreed with striking unions to seek Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) intervention in an attempt to resolve their pay dispute, the airline said on Monday.
Spokesperson Onkgopotse J J Tabane said: "SAA and the unions are negotiating details and the nature of intervention by the CCMA."

The decision comes as labour minister Membathisi Mdladlana on Monday urged the parties to accept dispute resolution to the strike.

Mdladlana said: "No party including the management of SAA should be intransigent as speedy resolution (of the dispute) is in the public interest."

Uasa general manager Andre Venter said that a meeting on Monday between the United Association of SA (Uasa), SAA and the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union had ended in failure even though the Uasa had a new mandate.

Venter said: "We're not asking for more money. We want the whole thing spread in a different way. We want the cake sliced differently.

"They (SAA) refused point blank."

Tabane said that SAA had bettered its 5% offer by applying it to medical and housing, in addition to offering a once-off payment of R1 600 to each worker.

Unions were asking for an 8% increase.

The strike has led to the cancellation of international and regional SAA flights and an uncertain domestic flight schedule.