Strike: SA no-fly zone

PILOTS: VOW TO CONTINUE ACTION UNTIL AIRLINE MANAGEMENT GIVES IN

- Thando Nondywana & Hein Kaiser

Striking South African Airways (SAA) pilots and the airline management were deadlocked yesterday, with the flight crew vowing to continue their industrial action "indefinitely" unless the airline gives in. Trade union National Transport Movement Pilots Forum (NTM) was said to have accepted a tentative offer, but the SAA Pilot Union had rejected it outright.

A senior captain said if SAA did not bend to their demands, the strike would continue indefinitely. "It is not just about the wage increase," the pilot said.

"We also want management change. They need to replace most of the managers quickly because, despite SAA making a nominal profit, it will be short-lived if current management is allowed to continue their tenure."

SAA's chief medical officer, Dr Nhlanhla Sishaba, was suspended earlier this year for allegedly issuing fraudulent medical certificates to pilots. Sales and marketing manager Carla Da Silva and other staff in the marketing department also face a Hawks investigation and a civil suit for the misappropriation of competing airline Airlink's sensitive commercial information.