Qantas pilots to vote on industrial action

Long-haul pilots for the national carrier are set to vote on industrial action over pay and conditions.

Editor’s note: This story first appeared on HR Leader’s sister brand, Australian Aviation.

The Australian and International Pilots’ Association (AIPA) has filed a protected action ballot order, with pilots set to vote between 27 July and 3 August. Potential actions include bans on work duties outside stipulated duty hours, delays to sign-on times, and outright work stoppages.

“Long-haul pilots do not take protected industrial action lightly. The last time we were forced to take action was under Alan Joyce 15 years ago, and before that it was 1966,” said AIPA president Captain Andrew Marshall.

“Despite two years of negotiations with Qantas, we have been unable to make meaningful progress on key issues. So, we have been left with no choice but to file a protected action ballot order with the Fair Work Commission.

“Long-haul Qantas pilots love this airline. We see ourselves as custodians of the Qantas brand and especially custodians of the airline’s revered safety culture. All we have asked from management is a little recognition and little respect.”

The union is seeking three “golden days” of leave every two months, during which pilots on leave cannot be called up to duty; more than eight hours’ notice for late-night callouts; and a pay rise that is 1 per cent more than the 3 per cent per annum Qantas has offered.

“Right now, young people are questioning piloting as a profession because it’s too uncertain, stressful and comes with significant sacrifice. If we let Qantas management erode the conditions of its respected and loyal pilots, the future of the airline looks bleak,” said Marshall.

“The changes we are seeking are modest and reasonable, including rostering improvements to protect pilots’ health and wellbeing.”

Qantas will have a conciliation meeting with AIPA and the Fair Work Commission on Friday, and is continuing negotiations with the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP), following the rejection of a previous AIPA-backed offer in April.

“It’s disappointing the union have taken this step given they previously supported a proposed agreement that was put to a vote in April and we have been continuing to negotiate with them,” said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace.

“We’ve offered pilots significant pay increases as well as long-sought-after changes to conditions, but there is a limit to what we can afford before it impacts our ability to offer competitive fares.

“We compete against more than 50 international airlines, face rising industry and government costs, and are operating in a particularly uncertain global environment.

“We’re committed to reaching an agreement and have sought the assistance of the Fair Work Commission to find a resolution.”

The current enterprise agreement covers around 1,700 Qantas pilots who operate 787, A330, and A380 aircraft.

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Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Momentum Media’s professional services suite, encompassing Lawyers Weekly, HR Leader, Accountants Daily, and Accounting Times. He has worked as a journalist and podcast host at Momentum Media since February 2018. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.