SATAWU threatens strike action
Gia Nicolaides | 25 Minutes Ago

Trade union SATAWU has confirmed South African Airways workers will embark on a national strike on Friday if acting CEO Chris Smyth and the board does not respond to their grievances.

A crowd of SAA staffers have been picketing outside Airways Park in Johannesburg for the past week calling on Smyth and other board members to step down.

They claim the acting CEO called several workers the k-word when they tried to meet with him two weeks ago and three other managers were trying to defend him.

The union’s Ephraim Mphahlele said they were planning to intensify their protest action.

“It will culminate into a full blown strike this coming Friday in an event where SAA management does not address the issues that gave rise the current demonstration,” Mphahlele said.

Smyth denied the allegations and is seeking legal advice.

Strike? Their airline is the absolute worst I have ever been on. I just came home on 8/4 from Johburg on SA Flight 203. Rude staff, filthly plane, worst seats ever!!. Hopefully a strike will put them out of business and someone else will fill the space.

I will never ever repeat ever fly SA Airlines again. I would rather take a slow boat to Africa than fly on an Airbus 340.

crl

Sadly, SAA is a very poor business concern today. It was not too many years ago that it was a joy to fly. I doubt they will go out of business (the government would probably not allow that to happen), but they may become a takeover target if they don't go too far down the economic curve.

I think from what I have seen from the SAA staff is that they are going to strike because they might actually be expected to do a little work to earn their paychecks.

If DELTA would get their act together, there is a real opportunity to take advantage of this situation! Unfortunately, the word is that they are still having issues with their African Program.

quote:

Originally posted by robncolorado:
If DELTA would get their act together, there is a real opportunity to take advantage of this situation! Unfortunately, the word is that they are still having issues with their African Program.

Used Delta 3 times to africa never had a problem

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
They claim the acting CEO called several workers the k-word when they tried to meet with him two weeks ago and three other managers were trying to defend him.

Uh, what's the k-word? I'm not familiar with it.

The Afrikaans version of the "N" word

Since I have tickets on SAA for 13 and 26 Aug, figured I’d better get to the root of this fast. Called the SAA office here in the USA yesterday – asked what would happen if SAA stopped flying due to the possibility of a pending union strike, what alternate travel plans they would provide, and what will happen to bags/guns checked through to a final destination.

Her response was their office hadn’t heard of any pending strike, during previous strikes SAA still flew as scheduled, the baggage is handled by outside contractors who hadn’t been part of the previous union strikes.

I have no independent method to confirm either the original post nor the SAA reps responses to my questions…..guess this is just part of the “African adventure”.

m3taco

You should be in contact with your travel agent ASAP! They may have a better plan!

During the previous strike they most certainly DID NOT fly as scheduled!!!

I was delayed almost a week, others were stopped en route [in Wasington as I recall] and had to show up early each day to determine if they were to be on a flight - if there was a flight. Schedules were not normal.

Les

Informed by SAA they settled late yesterday

So there should not be any Strike

Thanks Kathi;

Thanks as usual for the quick, reliable updates on all situations important. Using SAA at the end of the month so glad to see this will not be an issue??

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

as was posted earlier, i wouldn't fly SAA if they were the only airline going to Africa. shitty service, shitty planes, shitty attitude!