Cape Town — South African Airways (SAA) pilots remain on strike after wage talks between the SAA Pilot’s Union (SAAPA) and the National Transport Movement collapsed.
It marks the second time in just four months that SAA pilots have gone on strike over wage negotiations following a disruptive strike, but they resumed services after just two days.
Now, the pilots are on a “work to rule” strike, meaning staff on the ground will work according to office hours, which could lead to further disruptions. Meanwhile, an SAA pilot said services will be more affected in the air, The Citizen reported.
The pilot said crew members may refuse to extend duty time on flights and would do the bare miniumum, which will cost the company a lot of money. New SAA CEO John Lamola said the deal on the table was generous and the pilots actions’ were regrettable.
“We consider our offer to the pilots fair and generous, especially given the financial challenges the airline continues to face,” he said.
The strike remains suspended until further notice as customers await to see whether their travels will be affected.
ARCFYRE GSOC ALERT
SADC FLASH ALERT
JOHANNESBURG: SOUTH AFRICA SAA PILOTS STRIKE – 19.03
Media sources report the SAA Pilots Association (SAAPA) and the National Transport Movement (NTM) will strike. SAA has implemented contingency measures to minimise disruptions.
— Arcfyre International (@Arcfyre_Intl) March 19, 2025
According to National Transport Movement general secretary Ephraim Mphahlele, there was no urgency from management to bring the strike to an end, Newzroom Afrika reported.
Mphahlele said the wage negotiations collapsed as SAA had to engaged in delay tactics and did not return to the negotiation table, leading to the work-to-rule action, which led to a full-blown industrial action if they did not return to negotiations.
He said workers are pushing to restore the 6% decrease that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, while workers also want to be granted increases above inflation for the next two years.
“SAA would want to then offer something much less than what workers are demanding. They are offering 7.5%, which is too little to close the shortfall gap, let alone to also cover the wage increases for the next two financial years,” he said.
SAA says it has implemented measures to minimise pilots’ industrial action which began today. National Transport Movement general secretary Ephraim Mphahlele says there’s no sense of urgency from the management side.
Watch: https://t.co/PPYvYYifOY#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/Lnhklbd4JT
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 19, 2025
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
