“There is a significant gap between the salaries of white workers and African workers who do the same work.”
Comair operates and manages British Airways and Kulula in SA. It has 2,206 South African employees, with 373 belonging to Numsa.
Comair has already told passengers that it is implementing contingency measures and working around the clock to break the deadlock.
The airline said it would call as many customers as possible 72 hours before departure to facilitate check-in and has provided additional bag-drop counters. It urged passengers to check their flight status online and check in online or at self-service kiosks at airports.
Comair made R325m in profit the latest financial year.
Hlubi-Majola said: “Comair is successful because the working class poured its energies into it. They are directly responsible for the profits that the company has been generating. It is in all our interests to avoid a strike.”