The Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) said it will resume its strike action against Qantas on 1 March following the suspension of its protected industrial action (PIA) due to the threat posed by ex-tropical cyclone Lincoln. Western Australia-based pilots flying for Network Aviation (charter flights) and QantasLink (passenger transport) will resume PIA with three consecutive 24-hour stoppages (Wednesday 28 February, Thursday 29 February and Friday 1 March).
“Our Network pilot representatives decided to suspend the stop work action planned for this weekend as it was the professional and right thing to do to remove people from potential harm,” said AFAP senior industrial officer Chris Aikens.
More than 230 pilots (of a total of 250) employed by fully-owned Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation are members of the AFAP and are eligible to take this protected industrial action approved by the Fair Work Commission.
“What the pilots are asking for is just a drop in the ocean for the company given the half-year profit of $1.25 billion posted by Qantas on Thursday,” said AFAP senior industrial officer Chris Aikens. “Despite the need to take further action, we remain open to meeting with the company in the hope that it can offer something that will be acceptable to this pilot group. At the recent AFAP members meeting held (16 February) in Perth – and attended by more than half the 250-strong pilot workforce employed by Network Aviation – most indicated they may soon leave the company to fly for other airlines, including those overseas offering far better pay and conditions. As attracting and retaining pilots becomes even more difficult for Network Aviation, the impact on Qantas and the WA economy will be significant if Qantas fails to address the inequities of treating Network pilots like second-class citizens.”
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