News / National
Air Zimbabwe resumes flights as pilots ends the strike
21 Apr 2011 at 06:07hrs | Views
AIR ZIMBABWE resumes normal flights today after the strike by pilots that had paralysed operations of the national airline ended yesterday following Government intervention.
It is not clear over what period they would be paid the money. but surces close to the matter revealed yesterday that Government agreed to pay the pilots about 67 percent of what they were owed.
The pilots downed tools at the beginning of this month demanding payment of salary and allowance arrears dating back to February last year.
Representatives of the pilots reportedly met officials from the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development and hammered a deal that will see operations resuming today.
The deal is reported not to have gone down well with the board of directors, which had taken a hardline stance against the pilots.
The board chairman Jonathan Kadzura had reportedly threatened to resign yesterday.
Contacted for comment Kadzura, denied that he had resigned. "I am not aware of that, I am still the chairman," he said.
Acting Air Zimbabwe chief executive officer, Innocent Mavhunga, confirmed that an agreement had been reached with the pilots.
"I can confirm that an agreement has been amicably reached through the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development,: he said.
Mavhunga could, however, not shed light on the nature of the deal.
"For confidentiality purposes, we cannot disclose the contents of the agreement lest we be accused of negotiating in bad faith," he said.
However, sources within the workers' representatives said Government had agreed to release about US$4 million towards the payment of the salary arrears.
It is not clear if the deal also includes other critical staff such as flight attendants and engineers.
Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche referred questions to his permanent secretary Partson Mbiriri, who was not available for comment.
Recently, the Government had to bail out the cash-strapped national airline with US$400 000 after some of its workers attached property to recover salary arrears amounting to US$378 000.
Last year the pilots downed tools on two occasions over the arrears.
Air Zimbabwe has been facing acute financial challenges due to a downturn in business caused by declining volumes of passengers and an ageing fleet. The airline is saddled with a US$100 million debt.
This has resulted in a reduction on the number of routes serviced from 25 to seven
It is not clear over what period they would be paid the money. but surces close to the matter revealed yesterday that Government agreed to pay the pilots about 67 percent of what they were owed.
The pilots downed tools at the beginning of this month demanding payment of salary and allowance arrears dating back to February last year.
Representatives of the pilots reportedly met officials from the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development and hammered a deal that will see operations resuming today.
The deal is reported not to have gone down well with the board of directors, which had taken a hardline stance against the pilots.
The board chairman Jonathan Kadzura had reportedly threatened to resign yesterday.
Contacted for comment Kadzura, denied that he had resigned. "I am not aware of that, I am still the chairman," he said.
Acting Air Zimbabwe chief executive officer, Innocent Mavhunga, confirmed that an agreement had been reached with the pilots.
"I can confirm that an agreement has been amicably reached through the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development,: he said.
"For confidentiality purposes, we cannot disclose the contents of the agreement lest we be accused of negotiating in bad faith," he said.
However, sources within the workers' representatives said Government had agreed to release about US$4 million towards the payment of the salary arrears.
It is not clear if the deal also includes other critical staff such as flight attendants and engineers.
Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche referred questions to his permanent secretary Partson Mbiriri, who was not available for comment.
Recently, the Government had to bail out the cash-strapped national airline with US$400 000 after some of its workers attached property to recover salary arrears amounting to US$378 000.
Last year the pilots downed tools on two occasions over the arrears.
Air Zimbabwe has been facing acute financial challenges due to a downturn in business caused by declining volumes of passengers and an ageing fleet. The airline is saddled with a US$100 million debt.
This has resulted in a reduction on the number of routes serviced from 25 to seven
Source - Byo24News
