The Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) has just advised Qantas of a third 24-hour work stoppage this week, following last Thursday’s 24-hour stoppage.
Pilots flying for fully-owned Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation will stop work for three consecutive days this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (14, 15 & 16 February).
“Qantas management has angered our Network members by walking away from negotiations and, last week, taking previously agreed items off the bargaining table,” said AFAP Senior Industrial Officer Chris Aikens.
Members of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) make up 90% of the more than 250 pilots employed by Network Aviation and are eligible to take part in this lawful protected industrial action approved by the Fair Work Commission.
These pilots fly jet aircraft for QantasLink (passenger transport) and Network Aviation (charter contracts).
“Qantas can readily resolve this by recognising that Network pilots are only seeking to achieve terms and conditions of employment that are commonplace amongst the Qantas pilots and the airline industry overall,” said AFAP Senior Industrial Officer Chris Aikens.
The seven terms and conditions that the pilots have put to the company include:
- Two-hour (not 90 minutes) sign-on from reserve, as is common in the industry and in compliance with the Air Pilots Award 2020
- 6:00am (not 4:00am) start after a day off as for pilots at other Qantas/QantasLink operations and in compliance with the Air Pilots Award 2020
- Duty travel in a Business class seat (where available) to improve the opportunity for rest and Fatigue Management
- Same Duty Hours Allowance as for pilots at other Qantas/QantasLink operations
- Overtime increased using the same formula as for pilots at other Qantas/QantasLink operations
- Ten Rostered Days Off as for pilots at other Qantas/QantasLink operations
- Revised rostering appendix providing better rostering rules
“Our members deeply regret having to take this protected industrial action but are left with no other option,” AFAP Senior Industrial Officer Chris Aikens, said.
“The enterprise agreement expired in 2020 and pilots had their last pay rise in 2019.
“We have been negotiating in good faith for at least 18 months but the company continues to be inflexible.
“We remain keen and willing to meet with the company’s management to arrive at some improvements in terms and conditions for the lowest paid jet pilots in the Qantas Group.
“Network Aviation pilots in Western Australia fly the same aircraft on similar routes and just want to be treated like other Qantas pilots,” Aikens said
With more than 5500 members, the AFAP is the professional association and industrial organisation for commercial pilots in Australia. It represents and promotes the interests of Australian professional pilots and champions the highest possible standards of aviation safety.
