After 12 days of lockout and strike action by FlySafair pilots, an agreement has been reached between the airline and trade union Solidarity, following mediation by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

Solidarity deputy general secretary Helgard Cronjé says the CCMA-led proposal, accepted by both parties, was the closest middle ground that could be reached. “There are no winners in this process.”

The new shift roster system is now governed by fixed rules and no longer by “soft rules” that management could adjust, Solidarity states.

Although FlySafair still maintains that it cannot guarantee pilots one full weekend off per month, negotiations have led to an agreement that pilots will receive at least one 60-hour weekend off during each six-week cycle, with a minimum of nine weekends off a year, Solidarity informs.

Pilots who are required to work on their days off will be able to reclaim those days in the following month. They will also be allowed to exchange shifts among themselves. Moreover, pilots will receive at least ten days off a month. 

Regarding remuneration, 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 yearly adjustments of travel and accommodation allowances, as well as the medical allowance.

Pilots will also receive additional compensation for any hours exceeding 65 flying hours a month.

To soften the impact of the “no work, no pay” rule during the strike and lockout, pilots will receive a once-off ex gratia payment amounting to 15% of their monthly salary and will be allowed to cash in five days of leave.

Solidarity extended its gratitude to the two senior CCMA facilitators Duduzile Madubanya and Mahmood Fadal for their work to bring the parties to the proposed settlement.

FlySafair also confirmed that an agreement had been reached and said the airline would start restoring full capacity to the market.

With all aircraft returning to active duty and schedules being normalised, the airline anticipates a stabilisation of airfares in the coming weeks as more seats become available across the network.

“We are pleased to have reached a constructive resolution that allows us to move forward together.

“The return of our full schedule will help bring much-needed capacity back to the market, which is essential to restoring fare equilibrium and making travel more affordable again for South Africans,” said FlySafair chief marketing officer Kirby Gordon.