The Australian Federation of Pilots (AFAP) has advised Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation of a two-day work stoppage on 1-2 November. AFAP members – who make up over 90 percent of the pilot group employed by Network Aviation – will stop work from 0001 Wednesday 1 November to 23:59 Thursday 2 November.
“It is disappointing that there has not been any indication in that last four weeks that Qantas management might shift its position to bring its WA-based pilots’ wages and conditions into line with those of other Qantas Group pilots,” according to Senior Industrial Officer Chris Aikens. “Unfortunately, our members at Network Aviation now have no other option but to give notice for lawful protected industrial action.”
After the first 24-hour work stoppage on 4 October, the company put forward another sub-standard offer – without seeking the endorsement of the AFAP which represents the vast majority of the pilot group in the bargaining negotiations – for the entire pilot group to vote on. After an emphatic rejection of this offer – with 90% of the entire pilot group employed by Network Aviation voting ‘no’ – the next step appears to be a meeting mediated by the Fair Work Commission.
“Qantas management appears unwilling to take control themselves so have shifted the responsibility to the Fair Work Commission,” said Aikens. “We look forward to what new and revised offering the company proposes to take to the mediation on Monday,” he said. “We are hoping for the best but planning for the worst.”
The AFAP represents 90 percent of the commercial pilots employed by Qantas Group subsidiary Network Aviation to fly passenger transport (PT), and fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) and private charter aircraft in Western Australia.
Pilots voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking protected industrial action (PIA) with more than 99.5 per cent of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) pilot members at Network Aviation (90 percent of the pilot group) voting to approve the taking of a range of legally protected industrial action that includes a number of work bans and work stoppages.
Pilots employed by Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation have been attempting to negotiate new enterprise agreements to replace the Network Aviation Pilots Enterprise Agreement 2016 (which expired 31 Oct 2020).
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