A Kulula.com Boeing at Lanseria airport in Johannesburg. Picture: SUNDAY TIMES
ON THE GROUND: A Kulula.com Boeing at Lanseria airport in Johannesburg. The budget carrier is owned by Comair. Picture: SUNDAY TIME
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PEOPLE planning to fly Kulula.com or the domestic service of British Airways from Thursday face delays due to a potential strike.
Trade union Uasa, which represents about 60% of Comair’s staff, said on Tuesday it issued the required 48 hours’ strike notice to the operator of Kulula.com and the local franchisee of British Airways.
The union is demanding salary increases of 10% per year for three years, an amount it said is based on inflation as measured by the consumer price index (CPI) plus extra to allow for the extraordinary increase in cost of living as well as interest rate hikes.
Comair is offering 7.5% per year for three years.
Uasa said if the strike proceeds, it will mark the first strike by Comair staff in the airline’s history.
"The strike has the potential to cause massive inconveniences, delays in air travel and the destruction of shareholder value, hence Uasa remains committed to resolving the dispute, even at this late stage," the union’s statement said.
Uasa said it represented about 400 Comair employees — the majority of its customer service agents, ticket sales agents, ramp controllers, ground controllers and special service agents located at various