Why FlySafair pilots are striking: It's more than just money
Image: Jonisayi Maromo/IOL
As hundreds bemoan the FlySafair strike, Solidarity has released a statement expressing the real reason why pilots have downed their tools - and it's not just about the money.
While pilots overseas can earn up to R3 million plus housing and extras, earlier reports indicate that FlySafair pilots requested a raise. FlySafair responded stating that their Captains earn between R1.8 and R2.3 million annually, which, according to them, places the pilots within the top 1% of earners in South Africa.
With regards to workload woes, FlySafair noted that its Captains spent an average of 63 hours last month in the cockpit flying passengers. It added that this is "well within regulatory limits set by the Civil Aviation Authority, IATA, and ICAO", which cap flight duty at 100 hours per month.
While there is no doubt that that is a lot of money, the big question is: What is the point of having a full bank account if you cannot see your loved ones and your quality of life is low?
According to Solidarity's statement, the improvement in the pilots' quality of life is the main issue. This is set to be tackled when the mediation process between Solidarity and FlySafair's management takes place on Wednesday.
The process was requested by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), in terms of section 150 of the Labour Relations Act.
"While the pilots are also seeking a reasonable salary increase – including to restore their compensation to pre-COVID-19 levels – improved working conditions are particularly important. A new rostering system, recently implemented unilaterally by FlySafair, has drastically changed the established working conditions of pilots, which have been in place for the past decade. This new schedule impedes adequate rest periods and undermines pilots' family life," the union stated.
"As pilots' workdays often start before sunrise and last until late at night, sufficient rest is of utmost importance for the safety and well-being of pilots and passengers alike. In addition, pilots work seven days a week on a rotating schedule, which significantly impacts their family life compared to those who work standard office hours."
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
The proposals to achieve a settlement include, but are not limited to: that pilots will have at least one weekend off within each five-week schedule cycle, as well as two consecutive days off to properly rest and spend quality time with their families; the opportunity for pilots to exchange shifts with colleagues in cases where family responsibilities necessitate such flexibility; that if they have to fly on their days off, they will be compensated for these days off within the next schedule cycle.
Additional schedule proposals will also be submitted to FlySafair's management during the mediation.
It's worth noting that Solidarity stated that if FlySafair complies with the above requests, it will be prepared to review the salary increase demand and all other related claims and be willing to compromise.
This statement comes hours after FlySafair has confirmed that all flights on Tuesday's schedule are departing as planned and assured customers that disruptions have been minimal so far.
IOL

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Gupta-owned Saxonwold properties struggle at auction after only one property sells
In an auction held on Thursday, only one of the properties linked to the controversial Gupta family found a buyer, underscoring the significant stigma surrounding these assets. The modest staff residence located at 3 Saxonwold Drive was sold for R3.35 million, while two opulent homes steeped in state capture-era notoriety failed to attract competitive bids, highlighting ongoing challenges in the property market linked to dubious ownership. The auction, conducted by Park Village Auctions, saw a single R3 million offer placed for the six-bedroom mansion at 7 Saxonwold Drive, which initially had a starting bid set at R5 million. In stark contrast, number 5 Saxonwold Drive, an expansive eight-bedroom, three-storey property, did not receive any bids at all. The stark reality was that municipal valuations for these prime pieces of real estate are considerably higher, sitting at R21 million for 5 Saxonwold Drive and R36 million for 7 Saxonwold Drive. Auctioneer Clive Lazarus reflected on the results, stating, 'We had a great deal of interest leading up to the auction, but given the complexity and uniqueness of these properties, it's not unusual for a transaction of this nature to take more time.'


eNCA
4 hours ago
- eNCA
Gupta Saxonwold compound goes on auction
JOHANNESBURG - The once-glamorous Gupta compound in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, went under the hammer on Thursday but sold at significantly lower prices than expected. One of the houses, known as Property 3, which once served as staff quarters, sold for just R3.3-million, which is a decrease from its original amount of R5-million. Property 5, known as the 'White House', where the Gupta family lived, received a paltry bid of just R4-million. The house was previously valued at R21.7-million. Meanwhile, a prospective buyer bid just R3 million for Property 7 valued at R36.8-million. Clive Lazarus, a Director at Park Village Auctions, who facilitated the sale, says they weren't surprised by the low offers. He believes this is due to the infamy of its owners. "There was no surprise when it came to numbers 5 and 7. There has been interest, but there is a big stigma, and the property has been neglected since 2018. And no maintenance has been done since then". The Gupta brothers, Rajesh, Atul and Ajay who once called the compound home, were identified as central figures in South Africa's state capture. They remain fugitives after fleeing the country in 2016. Real estate experts believe the winning bidders scored a good deal. CEO of Lance Real Estate, Lance Cohen, says R3.3-million for a house in Saxonwold is a bargain in today's property market.

IOL News
9 hours ago
- IOL News
The National Dialogue: Solidarity not just a Moral Idea, it's an Economic Necessity for South Africa
South Africa faces a critical juncture as economic sluggishness, youth unemployment, and stark inequality threaten the nation's future. In the midst of a National Dialogue, the call for solidarity emerges as a vital strategy to foster inclusivity and growth. Image: IOL / Ron AI In South Africa today, the cracks are showing. Our economy remains stubbornly sluggish. Unemployment, particularly among the youth, is at crisis levels. Inequality is among the worst in the world. Many feel excluded, unheard and left behind. Amid this, the country is engaged in a National Dialogue to chart a new way forward. One word should sit at the centre of that conversation: solidarity. Solidarity is often spoken of as a moral or emotional value, a call to unity, empathy and compassion. While it is all of those things, it is also something else: a hard-nosed economic necessity. If we are serious about building a thriving and inclusive South African economy, then we must place solidarity at the heart of our growth strategy. Why solidarity matters for the economy A society that is deeply divided cannot grow sustainably. Investors are wary of instability. Businesses cannot thrive in an atmosphere of protest, insecurity and fractured trust. Workers cannot be productive if they are demoralised or excluded. And young people cannot innovate if they are shut out of education and employment. Social cohesion, the outcome of solidarity in action, is not a 'nice-to-have.' It is an essential input into economic stability and performance. Countries that grow in a healthy, sustained way are those that invest in their people, share the gains of growth and keep inequality in check. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The price of division South Africa knows too well the cost of a divided society. We see it in service delivery protests, violent crime, polarised politics and a declining sense of national unity. An economy that continues to serve only the elite while the majority are left behind is not only unjust, it is unsustainable. If inequality and unemployment continues to rise and social fractures deepen, it is not a question of if we will face unrest, but when. We cannot build an economy for the future if we are constantly putting out the fires of the present. Solidarity in action So what does solidarity look like in practice? It starts with shared responsibility. Those who have the means, high-net-worth individuals, successful businesses and multinationals, must be willing to contribute more to the common good. That means paying fair taxes. It means investing in South African communities, not just in stock portfolios. It means supporting local supply chains, job creation and inclusive development. Solidarity also means participation. All South Africans, whether rich or poor, urban or rural, must see themselves as co-creators of the country's future. A culture of community service, volunteering and giving back is not just good citizenship, it's a national investment strategy. Government, too, must uphold its part. Public institutions must be responsive, ethical and effective. Corruption and inefficiency erode trust and undermine solidarity. If people are to pull together, they need to believe that their efforts will not be wasted or abused. A call for temporary sacrifices At this moment in our history, some sacrifices may be required, not forever, but for long enough to reset the trajectory. Temporary financial contributions from those who can afford it and tax justice that ensures the super-rich and powerful corporations contribute their fair share. Structural reforms that level the playing field. These are not punitive measures., they are acts of collective self-preservation. If we fail to act now, the cost down the line, socially and economically, will be far higher. Building together Solidarity should not be viewed as sentimentality. It is strategy. It is the glue that binds inclusive economies together. It is what enables a country to move from survival to shared success. The National Dialogue offers a rare opportunity for South Africans to come together and rewrite our future. Let us not waste it. Let us understand that if we are to build an economy that works for everyone, we must start by committing to each other. Because solidarity is not just the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do. * Daryl Swanepoel is the Chief Executive of the Inclusive Society Institute. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.