Pilots on a go-slow at SAA

South African Airways says that workers have elected to start ‘work-to-rule’ industrial action on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Work-to-rule is a form of industrial action where employees strictly stick to official working rules and hours in a bid to decrease efficiency and reduce output.

The action is also known as a go-slow, which is used to keep production pressure on employers.

The action follows the SAA Pilots Association (SAAPA) and National Transport Movement (NTM) Pilot Forum’s displeasure with the airline’s final offer in wage negotiation.

SAA Group CEO John Lamola said that contingency measures are in place to mitigate the impact of the industrial action and services should be uninterrupted.

However, the group will also provide real-time updates on flight statuses.

“Our priority is to resolve outstanding issues collaboratively while maintaining service continuity and minimizing inconvenience to our valued customers while upholding the highest safety and operational reliability standards,” he said.

SAA said that its final offer to the associations is fair, given the group’s financial pressures and challenging operating environment.

The group is offering a 3-year salary increase agreement and introducing a longevity salary progression model for pilots.

The total package amounts to a 7.3% increase in 2025, and a 7.6% increase in 2026 and 2027.

Salary negotiations began in May 2024, with pilots initially demanding a 30% salary increase, which was later reduced to 15.7%.

In November 2024, SAA implemented a 7.2% average salary increase and increased the medical aid subsidy from R2,275 to R4,000 monthly. This was rejected, leading to a pilot strike on 5 December 2024.

As part of the negotiations, SAA agreed to SAAPA’s proposals on rostering, after it determined that it did not compromise the scheduling of pilots or SAAs route schedule.

The new rostering will be effective from 1 May 2025.

“The company believes that the salary increase for pilots is very reasonable and generous, especially considering SAA’s current financial state, which has been communicated and presented throughout the negotiation process,” it said.

SAA said it will continue negotiating with the worker associations.