South Africa’s Public Enterprises minister will meet with the unions striking at its state-owned airline on Tuesday. The meeting is an effort to resolve a strike over wages at the embattled South African Airways (SAA), that has entered its fifth day.
State-owned SAA has canceled hundreds of flights since the strike began on Friday, saying the stoppage is costing 50 million rand ($3.36 million) per day and jeopardizing talks with lenders.
Irvin Jim, General Secretary for the National Union for Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), which called the strike alongside the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA), said the unions would meet with Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan on Tuesday to discuss the strike.
According to reuters.com¸ the strike has cast doubt on the survival of the airline, which hasn’t turned a profit since 2011 and is reliant on state bailouts.