Pilots will have received the Chief Pilot’s update outlining the changes to the Company offer presented to the Unions in our joint bargaining meeting last week.
The AFAP in combination with AIPA and the TWU have not accepted this revised proposal.
At the meeting we provided initial feedback to Jetstar outlining the key deficiencies in the updated offer. While there were some positive improvements, notably the introduction of Duty RIG and a Roster Stability Payment (RSP), the RSP was limited in both scope and value to what was proposed by the Unions.
Critically there was no improvement on the Company base salary structure which we have repeatedly advised Jetstar we cannot accept for multiple reasons, primarily because it does not meet our benchmarking objectives.
The Company package included further degradation of the pay structure, with the removal of the 1,500-hour experience requirement from First Officer levels. Jetstar advised this was for “simplicity” and to avoid administratively tracking the 1,500-hour threshold. In effect, this removes the experience-based component of progression for pure administrative convenience.
While any movement from the Company is welcome, these changes do not meaningfully close the gap to the Joint Union position.
As a result, the Unions spent Thursday and Friday working collaboratively to develop a unified response, which was formally provided to Jetstar on Friday.
The Unions have agreed that a final attempt at reaching agreement before escalation is warranted, which has resulted in the Unions refining some elements of our previous package. Jetstar has been given until close of business Wednesday to respond. We are prepared to speak directly with senior executives if required.
While the Company’s update on Friday stated that our proposal “will be given due consideration”, the broader signs are not particularly encouraging. Jetstar has continued actively promoting its existing offer to the pilot group, without substantively addressing the concerns we have consistently raised. The experience change also represents a step backwards.
You will also have heard recent rhetoric during Company dial ins suggesting that pilots should be “free thinkers,” with an implication that the Unions may not be accurately reflecting what is required to secure a ‘yes’ vote.
For clarity, our position is driven directly by pilot feedback, benchmarking objectives, and what we understand would be capable of being supported by the pilot group. We are not seeking to influence views – we are conveying them.
To ensure your voices are clearly heard in the room this week, we ask that you complete a short poll (see below for further details). Your responses will directly support the Unions’ position in the room as discussions continue.
The Unions remain united and committed to reaching a negotiated outcome. There is a genuine opportunity this week for Jetstar to respond constructively and avoid escalation. Our preference remains to reach an agreement through negotiation. However, any final deal must be capable of earning the support of the pilot group.
We will continue to keep you informed as discussions progress.
Member Poll
Please access the poll
here:
This link will only work once, and the survey cannot be saved and returned to at a later time.
It is critical that all pilots complete the survey to have input into the next steps in bargaining.
This poll will take approximately 1 minute to complete and will close at 0900 on Wednesday 25th Feb (prior to our meeting with Jetstar). Individual responses are anonymous and are strictly confidential.
If you have any questions, your pilot representatives and AFAP industrial officers Deanna Cain, Pat Larkins or Andrew Molnar are available to assist via
jetstar@afap.org.au or call (03) 9928 5737.
Members can also engage constructively with AFAP pilot representatives and industrial staff via the members-only AFAP Telegram forum
here.
Regards,
AFAP Jetstar Negotiating Team
Chris Gibson, Dominic Corcoran, Daniel Blakemore, Ben Bollen, Jake Gainger and Paul Hogan