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Cape Town - Pilots at low-cost carrier Mango Airlines are mulling a pay strike.
The pilots belong to trade union Solidarity. The union, which represents about 96% of Mango’s pilots, issued a strike certificate to the airline on Friday.
Solidarity spokespeson Nico Strydom said the certificate was issued after salary negotiations with the state-owned carrier had deadlocked.
“Solidarity will now meet with its members to get a mandate. We hope to avoid a strike,” he said.
Marius Croucamp, another Solidarity spokesperson, said the dispute derives from 2011, when Mango undertook to bring its pilots' remuneration in line with that of their peers at other low-cost airlines by 2014.
“The airline, however, decided to violate the spirit of the agreement by referring the review clause to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to get it rescinded on a technicality,” said Croucamp.
He said the increase Mango is currently offering would leave its pilots still earning about 16% less than their peers at other South African low-cost airlines.
Strydom said in 2011 Solidarity compared pilots' wages at Mango to those of 1time and Kulula. 1time has since been liquidated.
“Today we’re comparing to pilots at Kulula,” said Strydom.
Currently there are only two low-cost airlines in the country, Mango and Kulula.
Analysts believe Kulula’s pilots are not a perfect comparison to Mango pilots, given that Kulula pilots work for Comair and also fly for the full-cost brand British Airways.
Mango pilots, in comparison, do not fly for South African Airways.
Mango’s spokesperson was not available for comment.
- Fin24
*Follow James-Brent Styan on Twitter at @jamesstyan.
The pilots belong to trade union Solidarity. The union, which represents about 96% of Mango’s pilots, issued a strike certificate to the airline on Friday.
Solidarity spokespeson Nico Strydom said the certificate was issued after salary negotiations with the state-owned carrier had deadlocked.
“Solidarity will now meet with its members to get a mandate. We hope to avoid a strike,” he said.
Marius Croucamp, another Solidarity spokesperson, said the dispute derives from 2011, when Mango undertook to bring its pilots' remuneration in line with that of their peers at other low-cost airlines by 2014.
“The airline, however, decided to violate the spirit of the agreement by referring the review clause to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to get it rescinded on a technicality,” said Croucamp.
He said the increase Mango is currently offering would leave its pilots still earning about 16% less than their peers at other South African low-cost airlines.
Strydom said in 2011 Solidarity compared pilots' wages at Mango to those of 1time and Kulula. 1time has since been liquidated.
“Today we’re comparing to pilots at Kulula,” said Strydom.
Currently there are only two low-cost airlines in the country, Mango and Kulula.
Analysts believe Kulula’s pilots are not a perfect comparison to Mango pilots, given that Kulula pilots work for Comair and also fly for the full-cost brand British Airways.
Mango pilots, in comparison, do not fly for South African Airways.
Mango’s spokesperson was not available for comment.
- Fin24
*Follow James-Brent Styan on Twitter at @jamesstyan.
