Striking South African Airways workers and South Africa’s Public Enterprises minister meet Tuesday in an effort to resolve a work stoppage that has entered its fifth day.
Irvin Jim, General Secretary for the National Union for Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), which called the strike alongside the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA), said the unions would meet with Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan on Tuesday to discuss the strike.
SACCA’s deputy president Christopher Shabangu also confirmed the meeting saying it was “trying to find a solution to ending the strike”.
The strike has cast doubt on the survival of the airline, which hasn’t turned a profit since 2011 and is reliant on state bailouts. Strikers say their goal is to force the government to intervene in SAA’s operations.
In addition to demanding more money, unions also want the SAA to reconsider plans to lay off hundreds of workers as part of a restructuring plan. The unions have threatened to shut down the entire aviation industry in Africa’s most industrialized nation by extending industrial action beyond the state-run airline.
SAA said on Monday its international flights were operating on schedule while some domestic passengers would face more cancellations on Tuesday and Wednesday.
