QPC Briefing No 14 2026
LH EA – Vote Opens Reminder
Voting for the Long Haul Enterprise Agreement 11 (EA11) opened today at 9:00am AEST.
The QPC Committee recommends that Long Haul Pilots vote No.
This agreement does not meet the standard required after years of concessions, and key issues raised by Pilots remain unaddressed.
Approval or rejection requires 50% + 1 of those who vote. If you do not vote, you do not count.
Turnout and the margin will determine whether the Company believes Pilots are prepared to accept this agreement or push for improvements. A strong No vote, backed by high participation, provides a clear mandate to return to negotiations as directed by the Pilot body.
Feedback from Pilots over the past five months has been consistent: this proposal does not meet expectations, particularly in areas such as roster stability, fatigue and the overall balance of conditions traded. The Committee’s recommendation reflects that feedback.
There is a clear and established path following a No vote. Across the industry, Pilots who have rejected initial agreements have secured improved outcomes through further negotiation, supported by strong participation and clear mandates.
In recent years, Qantas Short Haul voted no to their first proposed Agreement, and a second proposal was endorsed by Pilots following further negotiations. At Virgin Australia, after Pilots voted ‘no’ to their initial offer, the Company improved their offer to Pilots with assistance from the Fair Work Commission at conciliation. Regional Express Pilots dragged their recalcitrant managers back to the bargaining table following a campaign of Protected Industrial Action that had limited direct impact on their customers, but a strong impact on the Company.
Over the past two weeks, the QPC Committee has provided a series of briefs for your consideration:
- Our Assessment of the EA Draft and No recommendation – Brief No 9;
- An Update on the redrafted RIN provisions following our first brief – Brief No 10;
- A briefing on Blank Lines, the impacts on Pilots and intentions moving forward – Brief No 11;
- A rerelease of our Explanatory Document which includes detailed information on the proposed EA11, a colour coded ‘QRH’ analysis of changes and a deep dive into the next steps following the vote – Brief No 12;
- Yesterday, we provided a final brief that called on Pilots to carefully consider the deal and place the present circumstances in the context of a 4+ years agreement – Brief No 13;
This agreement will set the conditions for at least the next four years. Whether current gaps are accepted or improved depends on participation.
A No vote is not an endpoint. It is a step that, if supported collectively, provides the leverage needed to recommence negotiations for the agreement.
Every Pilot has a role in this outcome.
Regards,
AFAP Qantas Pilot Council
Michael Egan – Chair
Mark Gilmour – Vice-Chair
Rob Close – Secretary
Michael Armessen – Committee Member
David LaPorte – Committee Member
Josh Chalmers – Committee Member
Rob Gilmour – Committee Member