The Citizen reports that the failure by SA Airways (SAA) to pay cabin crew an increase of R507 ($39) on their meal allowance could result in major interruptions for the airline’s domestic and international flights on Wednesday.  

Cabin crew presently get R1,703 ($131) as a meal allowance and the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca), which has 1,700 members, on Friday served the airline with a notice of protected strike action.  Sacca president, Zazi Nsibanyoni-Mugambi, claimed the employer had not paid its members an international meal allowance increment since 2011.  The dispute was referred to the CCMA, but it remained unresolved.  Sacca deputy president Christopher Shabangu said:  “They (pilots) cannot fly the aeroplanes without us.  There will be major disturbances if the issues are not resolved before Wednesday.”  SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said SAA had met labour union representatives in an effort to find a resolution and that another meeting was scheduled for Monday in the hope of averting the strike.  “We still remain optimistic that SAA and Sacca will find solutions to these matters,” said Tlali.

• Read this report by Vicky Abraham in full at The Citizen

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