EA Update - Industrial Action starts tomorrow at 00:01 AWST
Today, in an act of trying to facilitate discussions between the parties, the AFAP approached the company to offer a suspension of future Industrial Action, pending a meeting between the parties.
As the AFAP was making that request, the company requested a “without pre-condition” suspension of the 24-hour stoppage scheduled for tomorrow.
This request was considered by your reps but because there was no indication of potential movement from the company prior to commencement of this action, it was felt that to suspend the action would be premature and would not fully show the level of dissatisfaction being expressed by our Network members.
Therefore action will still take place as planned. To show maximum unity we urge all pilots to not turn up for work or be available for duty from 0001 to 2359 tomorrow (Wed 4 October)
We know it can be disappointing or difficult for some to have to take this action, but we feel we have no alternative as we have consistently explained the last offer from Qantas just would not be agreeable to the pilot group.
Despite this, your AFAP negotiating team is keen to try every last effort to seek to get a resolution to this dispute and this is why we have proposed a suspension of further Industrial Action to enable a meeting between the parties.
We have requested that a meeting take place early next week and the AFAP remains committed to ensuring the voice of the Network pilot community is clearly heard prior to this meeting and consequently we shall be arranging a meeting of members next week. Details will be forwarded soon.
Once again thanks for the outstanding solidarity being shown by you all. Your willingness to face up to the largest pilot employer in the country has been noted by pilots all over Australia. Please take the time tomorrow to support your family, friends and colleagues, our next step is to try to achieve a deal that is worthy of that solidarity.
In unity,
Stephen Maughan:
smaughan@iinet.net.au
Cameron Mapley:
Mappers@gmail.com
Ben Walmsley:
ben.walms@gmail.com
In addition, the AFAP Senior Industrial Officer Chris Aikens is contactable on
chris@afap.org.au
The AFAP Member Assistance Program (MAP) can also be contacted via Freecall 1300 307 912.