After 12 days of lockout and a strike by FlySafair pilots, an agreement has finally been reached through the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) settlement proposal.

This brings the longest pilot strike and lockout in South African history to an end.

The Deputy General Secretary of Solidarity, Helgard Cronjé, says this is the closest the parties could come to a middle ground, and there are no winners in this process.

A new shift roster system is now regulated by hard rules, and no longer by so-called “soft rules” that can be adjusted at will by management.

Although FlySafair maintained that they could not offer pilots a guaranteed weekend off per month, after negotiations, it was agreed that pilots would receive at least one 60-hour weekend off in every six-week cycle, with a minimum of nine weekends off per year.

Pilots who have to work on their days off will be able to get those days off back in the following month. They will also be allowed to swap shifts with each other. Furthermore, they will receive at least ten days off per month.

“While the agreement is an important step, there are still concerns that it only protects the very basic rights of the pilots,” says Cronjé.

Cronjé says this agreement could have been reached as early as February.

 “If FlySafair management had made the same concessions regarding the schedule back then, the strike and lockout could have been avoided. Management’s tone deafness to the reasonable pleas of their pilots ultimately led to conflict and losses for all parties, and also caused significant disruption to passengers and the public.”

In terms of compensation, pilots will receive salary increases of 6%, 6.5%, 6.8% and 6.9% respectively over the next four years. These percentages will also apply to annual adjustments in travel and subsistence allowances, as well as the medical allowance. Pilots will also receive additional compensation for any hours above the 65 flying hours per month.

To mitigate the impact of the “no work, no pay” rule during the strike and lockout, pilots will receive a one-off ex gratia payment of 15% of their monthly salary, and they will be allowed to buy out five leave days.

Cronjé emphasises that pilots and Solidarity were forced to communicate with management through the media and open letters, while at the same time correcting misinformation from within the company. Ultimately, the CCMA intervened to help guide the parties to a solution through a very difficult conciliation process.

He has urged FlySafair to change the way it conducts labour relations.

“The pilots’ input during the finalisation of the agreements has only reaffirmed how little trust they have in FlySafair’s management. Solidarity has negotiated and finalised hundreds of agreements, but has never experienced anything like this. Unless drastic change takes place, this settlement will not prevent an outflow of pilots. This would be to the great disadvantage of the company and the country.”

FlySafair passengers are still advised to check their flight status before leaving for the airport.