Sunday Times Daily reports that many employees of SA Airways (SAA) subsidiary Air Chefs — which provides in-flight catering services to airlines — have gone without normal salaries for more than 16 months.

This has meant blacklisting, no money for food and having to give up homes after falling behind on rent and bond payments. In a letter sent to staff by management on 18 August, the company said it had been engaging with labour on back pay for employees. According to National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) general secretary Irvin Jim, they met together with other unions with the board and management at Air Chefs on Monday and came to an agreement. It was agreed that the company would pay 75% of the outstanding salaries of 16 months. Jim indicated: “Payment will be made within 48 hours or by Thursday this week. The balance of 25% will be paid within six months. Should the funds be made available soon, they will pay any time once funding is in Air Chefs’ account. Numsa thanks our officials for their tireless work in negotiating with the employer. Workers at Air Chefs have suffered a lot. This was their money and there was no justification for not paying.” But for some workers, the payment is a “little too late”. Patrick Nyathi, who has worked for the company for the past 19 years, lamented that he had since been crippled by debt. Nyathi is more than R34,000 behind on his rent and R30,000 behind on school fees for his two children. He said he also struggled to put food on the table and his life cover and other policies lapsed due to nonpayment.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at Sunday Times Daily

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