BusinessLive reports that Vuyani Jarana, CEO of SA Airways (SAA), has angered the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) by giving an undertaking to trade union Solidarity that the carrier would immediately start looking for a strategic equity partner in the private sector.  

Solidarity provided detail on Wednesday of a written undertaking by Jarana that the search for a strategic partner for the deeply indebted state-owned national airline would begin immediately.  Solidarity said it had suspended — but not abandoned — its application to have SAA placed into business rescue based on Jarana’s undertaking.  Satawu spokeswoman Zanele Sabela said the five unions that represented workers at SAA had not been informed of the decision to start looking for an equity partner immediately.  "We were surprised to hear about this latest development in the media despite having regular engagements with Mr Jarana.  Even more surprising is the fact that Solidarity is not a recognised union within SAA," said Sabela.  The unions were due to meet with Jarana on Thursday to discuss statements he made in recent weeks about staff matters without having spoken to the unions about them first.

• Read this report by Neels Blom in full at BusinessLive
• Read too, How hollow is Solidarity’s SAA victory? at Moneyweb

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page