SAA faces strike as pay talks fail

"WORK TO RULE": PILOTS, GROUND STAFF ON GO-SLOW

- Hein Kaiser

Ground staff and pilots at SAA yesterday embarked on "work to rule" industrial action as wage talks between the South African Airways Pilot's Union (Saapa), the National Transport Movement and the airline collapsed.

This is the second time that pilots have engaged in industrial action after a full strike in December last year disrupted operations.

A work to rule, or go-slow, means that staff on the ground will stick to the letter of procedure and office hours, potentially causing a measure of operational challenges. Nobody will go the extra mile.

In the air, however, it could cost SAA dearly. "It could mean flying full instrument approaches and configuring aircraft earlier for landing," the pilot said. "This all burns more fuel."