Strike grounds Airzim planes again

their outstanding June and July salaries and allowances.
About a fortnight ago flights were suspended again after the pilots went on strike demanding their outstanding allowances and salaries.

Yesterday’s strike left hundreds of passengers stranded.
Air Zim acting chief executive officer, Mr Moses Mapanda confirmed the strike last night saying negotiations with the pilots were underway.
“We have not been able to pay the pilots their June and July salaries and allowances, so that is what they are demanding.
“We are talking to one another and the meetings are cordial but they insisted that they would need to consult their membership first so we are meeting again tomorrow (today),” he said.

Mr Mapanda said no air service would be offered by the national airline until the issue has been resolved.
“It was only the pilots who went on strike, everyone else is at work.
“In the meantime we are not offering any air service.

“We are however, waiting for the pilots meeting tomorrow (today) to guide us,” Mr Mapanda said.
He said Air Zimbabwe had re-scheduled some of yesterday’s flights including the Harare-Beijing flight.
Mr Mapanda said some of the passengers had been re-scheduled.

“Some have been re-scheduled, others re-scheduled themselves on other airlines but will be re-funded at a later date.
“Some of the passengers are waiting until we resolve the issue.
“For the Beijing flight, we re-scheduled it to tomorrow (today) subject to the pilots’ meeting tomorrow morning,” he said.

Sources who spoke to The Herald yesterday said pilots were taking advantages of the problems bedevilling the airline.
They said the pilots had become very powerful that they can just do as they please.

“These pilots have other motives which have nothing to do with their conditions of service.
“Two weeks ago they were given part of their allowances and told that management and the shareholder (Government) were seized with the matter but they still hold the airline hostage.

“They must appreciate that Air Zim is operating under difficult circumstances. We are not making profits because of the staff complement,” said the source on condition of anonymity.
Added another source: “It is high time that the shareholder stops dancing to these pilots’ tune because they are not doing the airline any good.

“Everyone is concerned with what is happening at Air Zim. The board, management and the shareholder are working flat out to make sure things work but the pilots are letting us down. They are not sincere at all.”