South African trade union Solidarity has called for the Minister of Defence, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, to act to ensure the futures of 523 aircraft maintenance and repair specialists in the Aero Manpower Group (AMG) whose jobs have been imperilled by the decision of the South African Air Force (SAAF) to allow its contract with State-owned maintenance, repair and overhaul company Denel Aviation to expire at the end of March next year.

The AMG unit of Denel Aviation provides maintenance for SAAF aircraft, alongside SAAF personnel. It is not clear what will happen to the AMG technicians once the contract ends. The SAAF might seek to employ them, taking over their contracts of service, or they might be retrenched.

“We demand that the Minister of Defence intervene and convene a meeting with the air force, Denel Aviation/AMG and trade unions in order to make a decision and, thereby, give a definite answer to the employees who are at present facing the festive season not knowing what their fate will be,” asserted union spokesperson Jack Loggenberg. Solidarity represents more than 300 of the affected workers.

As yet, neither a Section 189 notice – a formal notification that retrenchments will occur – nor a Section 197 notice – notifying that the SAAF will take over the contracts – has been issued, he reported.

That the SAAF intended ending its contract with Denel Aviation first emerged in June last year, with notice being given to that effect. This was followed by talks on the possibility of amending and reviewing the contract. But last month the SAAF confirmed in a letter that it would not be renewing the contract next year.

“Denel Aviation/AMG met with [the] SA Air Force ... last week, after which we were informed that the air force will definitely not be renewing its contract with Denel Aviation/AMG because the air force’s financial position allegedly did not justify it,” stated Loggenberg. “It is suspected that options are being considered to continue utilising some of the technicians in the air force, but there is no communication with Solidarity .... there is a possibility that the air force will not be able to pay the technicians it takes over what they are earning now.”