FWC Conference Outcome
Today we attended another Fair Work Commission (FWC) conference in Sydney before Deputy President Roberts.
The EFA pilot representatives and union employees attending the FWC conference were Simon Lutton (AFAP), Susha Semenikow, Dean McMahon, Emma Woodford (AIPA), James Ahern, and Ed Nell (TWU).
Attending the FWC conference for EFA were Richard Hardonin (Head of Flying Operations and Chief Pilot, Qantas Freight), Patrick Lawler (Qantas IR) and Karl Romberg-Yee (Qantas IR).
Unfortunately, the conference was unsuccessful in closing the gap between us and the Company. It has also become apparent that further conferences would be unlikely to close the gap at this time.
In short, the remuneration and other terms which the Company have proposed are far away from what we believe is the minimum that EFA pilots would accept. The Company proposal is still well short of industry standard.
New Protected Industrial Action (PIA) Notified
As a result, today we have notified the Company of two additional protected industrial actions commencing on Wednesday next week. These two actions are:
- A ban on engaging in duty travel unless a business class seat is provided to the employee for the purposes of that duty travel. Letter of notification – click here
- A ban on departing from home base in an aircraft with an MEL or CDL applied. Letter of notification – click here
Unfortunately, we expect that the Company may assert that these actions are unprotected in which case it is likely that we will be dragged into further Commission hearings. We will deal with this if/when it happens.
Application to Terminate EA Continuing
Pilots should note that our application to terminate the current agreement is proceeding and we expect further directions in this matter in the near future.
Rest assured we will continue to explore every lawful option until a satisfactory agreement is achieved.
Ongoing PIA
Just a reminder that several forms of protected industrial action (PIA) are still in force as follows:
- A ban on working on the following days as scheduled in the pilots’ initially published roster:
- rostered days off;
- non-work days for part time employees;
- annual leave days; and
- long service leave days.
- A ban on being contactable by EFA unless on a rostered duty or during a reserve period. This includes that a pilot will not answer phone calls, acknowledge texts, acknowledge updates to their roster, acknowledge emails or respond to any other form of communication unless they are on a rostered duty or in a designated reserve period.
- A ban on signing on within 120 minutes of being called in off a reserve period.
- A ban on reporting and/or performing any work duties before the scheduled sign-on time for a duty.
We ask that all members continue to enact the above PIA.
We will keep you updated on developments over the coming days and before the commencement of the latest PIA.
Thank you again for your support as we work to achieve a fair and reasonable agreement at EFA.
If you have any questions on the above, please contact us directly or Simon Lutton at the AFAP on mobile: 0419 482 582 or email simon@afap.org.au.
In Unity
Susha Semenikow and Dean McMahon
AFAP EFA Pilot Representatives