A task team has been appointed to find the money, and Numsa has announced that retrenchments meant to begin last week have been pushed back to January.
Democratic Alliance (DA) federal council chairperson Helen Zille expressed some skepticism following the end of the crippling unprotected strike which saw an estimated 3,000 South African Airways (SAA) employees down tools for a full week from Friday, November 15.
Zille wants to know where the government, who agreed to pay backdated 5.9% salary increases in February next year, is going to get the money from.
“Is anyone else puzzled? One minute, SAA has no money to pay November salaries; the next minute they are able to pay backdated salary increases. How does that work? And where will the money come from? Education? Health? Social Grants?” she tweeted.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) said on Friday that the government had offered to pay the remaining 5.9% wage increment back pay from April this year in February next year.
SAA workers will be returning to work this weekend.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi Majola also said on Friday that the retrenchment of SAA workers, which were meant to start last week and along with wages was one of the reasons for the strike, have been pushed back to this coming January, but only for members of Numsa or Sacca.
Pravin Gordhan told parliament on Wednesday that SAA didn’t have money to “possibly even pay salaries at the end of the month”.
The airline has reportedly told staff to “make arrangements” regarding debt orders as November salaries will not be paid on time.
A task team was appointed Friday and tasked for finding the money for SAA’s salaries, announcing that it will begin work in two week’s time. The team will also have to find the 2.1% needed for salaries after unions agreed to a 5.9% salary increase after asking for 8% and being told that 5.9% was the maximum which could be afforded.
SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali asked for an email to be sent rather than questions asked on the phone. He had not responded to the email at the time of publication.
The Citizen attempted to gain comments from the government regarding where the money for the backdated salary increases will be coming from shortly before this story was published, with representatives of the presidency and the department of public enterprises unreachable so far. Their comments will be added once received.
Is anyone else puzzled? One minute, SAA has no money to pay November salaries; the next minute they are able to pay backdated salary increases. How does that work? And where will the money come from? Education? Health? Social Grants?
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) November 23, 2019
In other news – Here is the Reason why Nasty C won Best Digital Sales over AKA
The streaming industry has grown substantially over the last couple of years in the South African music industry. It has now reached a point were most listeners of music listen to music online which has also inspired a competition amongst artists on who dominates the streaming world.
There is even a category dedicated to this at the SA Hip Hop Awards. At the latest Award ceremony, Nasty C was awarded the accolade for Best Digital Sales. continue reading
Source: The Citizen
