Court dismisses Airlink application to liquidate SAA
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) have welcomed the ruling by the High Court to dismiss an application by Airlink to liquidate national airline, SAA.
NUMSA, SACCA and the Airline Pilots Association of South Africa (ALPA-SA) opposes the application.
NUMSA's Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says saving SOEs is in the interest of the country.
"It is in the interest of the country as a whole to save these entities and ensure their longevity, and workers should not have to pay the highest price for the failures of management.
Likewise, it is better that all victims of the inadequate and flawed business rescue process at SAA should rather work together towards attaining the objective of a new restructured airline, under independent and competent management," says Hlubi-Majola.
Hlubi Majola says the proposed BRP's plan will plunge workers further into the job-loss blood bath by retrenching more than 3700 workers.
"This reckless act will deepen the unemployment crisis in South Africa. We must state that whilst we agree with Airlink on most of the issues they raised against the BRPs at SAA, we disagree with the remedies they sought, namely the liquidation of the airline," says Hlubi-Majola.
SAA creditors, employees and role players are expected to cast their vote later today about whether to approve the business rescue plan.
SAA creditors urged vote for business rescue plan
A vote is set to be held on Thursday. The department will meet with SAA's creditors, employees and other stakeholders to decide the fate of the airline. Spokesperson Sam Mkokeli says a business rescue plan would result in a better return for all parties compared to liquidation.