Sandu successful in fight for SAAF firefighters’ incentive allowance

More than three years ago, South African Air Force (SAAF) firefighters lost their technical competency-based incentive pay (TCIP) due to what the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) called “a military dispensation”.

This has been reversed thanks to legal action instituted by the military labour organisation, the largest in South Africa with membership nearing the 20 000 mark by way of 110 local branches.

Making public the court decision, Sandu said implementation of the military dispensation specifically for Air Force firefighters was invalid because the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, at that time Thandi Modise, did not have proper approval from still serving Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana. Additionally, the court ruled excluding SAAF firefighters from allowances was “unfair” and that the TCIP be reinstated with back pay.

The court ordered, according to the Pretoria-headquartered trade union, TCIP payments to resume immediately with back pay owed from April 2022 as well as the current Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga “lawfully” redoing the salary process in the Military Bargaining Council (MBC). Importantly, firefighters in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) – now seemingly thanks to the Sandu intervention on behalf of those in the SAAF – will not have to use internal grievance procedures for salary and allowance related issues in future.

While the court ruling is welcomed Sandu noted the judgement – in its entirety – can be put on hold if an appeal is lodged.

Another labour related issue Sandu took on for paid-up members is what it terms the “subsistence and transport (S&T) bottleneck”. This was as a result of these claims being “stuck” at the Chief Paymaster with 148 complaints to the labour organisation. “A hundred and forty have been paid with the final eight in process,” according to a Sandu communique.

Also on the Sandu legal schedule is the removal of technical allowances for Department of Defence (DoD) Works Formation artisans. Another hearing is set down for the Gauteng High Court on 5 November in the wake of heads of arguments lodged with the Pretoria Court on the corner of Madiba and Paul Kruger streets.

Sandu will use the hearing to attempt reversing an order declaring technical allowances halted. Allowances are reportedly due to around 900 building and allied trades artisans in the Works Formation. 

Republished with permission of defenceWeb.