FlySafair pilots to strike after salary talks collapse

FlySafair pilots are preparing to strike after salary negotiations with the airline collapsed.

Reports indicate that three months of talks between FlySafair and the Solidarity trade union have ended in a deadlock.

The airline proposed a 5.7% salary increase along with additional compensation adjustments, but the majority of Solidarity members rejected the offer.

FlySafair pilots say no to salary increase

Solidarity Deputy General Secretary Helgard Cronje said the standoff goes beyond salary concerns, pointing to strained relations between FlySafair’s management and its pilots.

He noted that pilot dissatisfaction stems from more than just pay issues.

A recently introduced shift roster system has sparked major frustration, with pilots claiming it’s too rigid and disrupts their work-life balance.

They’ve also criticised the airline’s leave and off-day policies, arguing that the current arrangements negatively affect their well-being and don’t align with industry standards.

FlySafair and Solidarity are set to finalise strike protocols with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on Thursday, 17 July, and if all goes as planned, the first strike, focused on the salary dispute, could begin within days.