RFDS Western Operations - Clarification on Grey Days
The AFAP has recently been contacted by several pilots querying how Time in Lieu (TIL) for duties conducted on grey days should be treated. This is particularly relevant to situations where a crew has had to over day away from home base at the conclusion of their final night shift, and then is expected to fly the aircraft home, arriving prior to 2200WST.
Firstly, it is important to note that your enterprise agreement (EA) establishes a baseline, rather than an upper limit, contrary to recent statements the AFAP understands to have been made by Anthony Green – General Manager of Aviation.
Practically speaking, this means mean that the RFDS is always able to offer or agree to conditions above the minimum standard set by the EA (such as extra TIL). Whether it does or does not is a choice of the RFDS, not a requirement.
The AFAP considers the duties on a grey day when there has been a break in duty post finishing a night shift should attract TIL. Some pilots recall statements made by Anthony Green during the road shows that agree with this. However, the RFDS have no said that duties on a grey day do not attract TIL.
To be clear, no pilot can be directed by the RFDS to commence a new duty on a grey day or a rostered day off. It always requires the pilot’s agreement.
Where the RFDS does not approve TIL in these situations, should you wish to not operate the aircraft back to your home base:
- Clause 42 in the EA makes it clear that the RFDS is obligated to provide either suitable transportation or reimbursement for reasonable costs associated with relocating employees to their home base.
- Any such relocation falls within the definition of a duty period and requires the pilot’s agreement.
- If you agree to a deadhead flight or RPT flight that arrives at your home base after 2200WST on the grey day or on an RDO, you will be entitled to 7.6 hours of TIL.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact your AFAP Industrial Team - Matt Magnussen, Rob Gilmour, Bryn James or Jason Allery, or you can contact Andrew Molnar at the AFAP by emailing andrew@afap.org.au or calling (03) 9928 5737.
Your AFAP Industrial Team