A Blow for NUMSA & SACCA on SAA Application

By: Lindelani Mbatha

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and South Africa Cabin Crew Association’s (SACCA) urgent Labour Court application against South African Airways (SAA) has been dismissed.

The two unions approached the court to compel SAA rescue practitioners, Siviwe Dongwana and Les Matuson to pay their members a lump sum comprising a 5.9% increase backdated to April 2020, as well as an equivalent pro-rata contribution towards a 13th cheque.

In December, more than 81% SAA employees, including NUMSA and SACCA members, signed the settlement agreement with the airline, after R3.5 billion of the required R10.5 billion was made available to the rescue practitioners.

The airline has been under in business rescue since December 2019 and has not been operating.

Delivering the judgement, the Labour Appeal Court says the legality of the business rescue practitioners’ actions in this case is outside of its jurisdiction.