On February the 7th the Pilot Consultative Committee (PCC) convened its quarterly meeting with Jetstar management at Head Office in Collingwood.
Attending on behalf of the pilot group were AFAP pilot representatives Chris Gibson, Dom Corcoran, Daniel Blakemore, Darren Fielder and Andrew Ward along with AIPA pilot representatives Harold Boyd, Nicholas Chetelat and Phil Peatfield. AFAP Senior Legal/Industrial Officers Deanna Cain and Pat Larkins and were also in attendance.
Attending on behalf of Jetstar was Michael Porch, Leah Everton, Tim Faulkner, Alisha Lavea-Williams and Teyah Andrews.
The items that were raised and discussed at the PCC meeting are summarised below.
PCC Meeting
DIL Balance
Jetstar advised that there are still 1854 days outstanding, down from 1998 days in November last year. This reduction was due to management DILs being removed.
Jetstar are still working on a proposal to acquit the DILs by the end of the 2019 EA (21 Nov 2025). The AFAP reps have suggested at previous meetings that the easiest option is to pay out the balance, or allow pilots to convert DILs to annual leave, however the Company have stated that these are not viable options.
Sick Leave Pool Balance
Jetstar advised that the Sick Leave Pool is currently sitting at 945 days, noting that the pool was topped up by 1 day per pilot on the 5 December 2023 consistent with clause 54.2.1 (b) of the EA. We were advised that 962 days went into the pool which was the pilot establishment excluding LWOP and Management pilots as of the 05/12/2023.
Individual Flexibility Agreements
There is currently 1 pilot on an approved IFA.
Hotel Update
Current Hotel status
Jetstar provided the PCC with an update on the crew hotels that have recently been subject to the Request for Proposal (RFP) process:
- Rarotonga – Requested contract extension with incumbent hotel, Edgewater Resort Spa.
- Osaka - Requested contract extension with incumbent hotel, ANA Crowne Plaza
- Nadi – PCC Inspections to take place in March 2024.
- Darwin - PCC Inspections to take place in March 2024.
Ad hoc Hotels
As was communicated in the November 2023 update, there have been reports of the occasional use of Ad hoc hotels which do not meet the EA requirements in accordance with clause 62.3.1 of the EA. The Company agreed and a ‘Do not book list’ has been initiated.
Current ‘Do not book list’:
- CNS – Ramada by Wyndham Cairns City Centre
- MEL – Batman Hills Hotel Melbourne (Mercure Caroline Springs)
Intelex reporting does work and improving the hotel standards is a priority of the PCC. A reminder that the process to follow if the Ad hoc hotel is not to standard is as follows:
- Submit Intelex report (photos are recommended if appropriate to illustrate the problem/s)
- Request hard lying allowance in accordance with clause 62.7 of the EA.
International Crew Meals
The RFP for International Crew Meals for the Short Haul International and Wide Body operations are still being finalised between the two providers Mile One and Dnata. Dnata and the Company are currently exploring a third option being business class hot meals with the standard snack draw. If business class meals are given the green light further PCC meal tasting will be required prior to PCC approval.
The PCC raised the paper bags currently utilised as the snack draw on the wide body operation. We can confirm this is a short term mitigator due to a shortage of boxes and will be rectified ASAP.
The timeline for the meal changes is still being expected around middle of 2024.
Online Training
As is required under the Online Training provisions in the EA (clause 68.3), PCC representatives recently completed the new Human Factors online course which is soon to be rolled out to the pilot group, with completion times ranging from 50 to 72 minutes.
The PCC has recommended that a time allocation of 90 minutes would be appropriate for all pilots undertaking this course, allowing for a small buffer of 20 minutes. This buffer is intended to accommodate potential technical issues, breaks, and interruptions, especially considering that the course is completed remotely.
Jetstar are currently reviewing this recommended time allocation and once agreed it will be listed on the online training list viewable of JEN.
eTechlog
The PCC were briefed on the implementation of the eTechlog project which will be transitioned onto the line in approximately the next 3 to 4 months. This project is a major change to how Pilots and Engineers manage aircraft serviceability and going by the briefing, will be a large improvement from the current process. Starting with an in-depth training package which is required to be completed by the entire pilot group prior to the initial implementation, eTechlog will be rolled out commencing with the A321 CEO, followed by the A320 then the A321 NEO and finally the B787.
The PCC will remain engaged with the Company and assist with feedback on the appropriate online training time allocation when eTechlog is approaching implementation.
Uniform Update
The PCC was provided with a brief update on the status of the new uniform rollout. Details were light on the final design due to confidentiality though we were told to expect a ‘significant improvement’ from the current uniform. Since the meeting the company has advised that the official Uniform reveal will be on the 29th of February.
JPF / Jetstar Meeting
Following the PCC meeting AFAP representatives met with Jetstar representatives to discuss a number of matters that are not within the remit of the PCC under the terms of the EA and are more appropriately dealt with at a union level. Tyrone Simms joined and chaired this meeting.
A summary of the matters discussed directly between the AFAP and Jetstar are summarised below:
Direct Entry Commands and Upcoming FSO
Given the number of unfilled advertised and consequential vacancies for Narrow-Body Captains from the last FSO there has been some speculation that Jetstar may look to employ Direct Entry Captains (DECs) on the A320.
Jetstar has advised that any move to engage DECs would be an absolute last resort for the business and it would explore all other viable options to upgrade suitable internal Jetstar pilots before it went down this path, including relaxing freezes for frozen WB first officers who wanted a narrow body command.
Earlier this month you would have received an email from Michael Porch titled ‘Standing preferences and Crew Resource Planning’ which contained some critical information for pilots to consider in relation to their bidding behavior for the upcoming FSO, including:
- All pilots seeking a promotional opportunity in the future must update their bidding preferences, including any Wide-Body First Officers who are currently type frozen as per the Jetstar Airway Pilots’ Enterprise Agreement 2019 cl. 27.2.2(c).
- Jetstar is aiming to move towards a process where Pilot Vacancy FSOs are published in line with crew resourcing requirements identified using the Northern Summer and Northern Winter schedules i.e. twice yearly. As such it anticipates the next pilot vacancy FSO (if required) will not be advertised until late 2024.
We cannot stress the importance of any pilot seeking a command opportunity at Jetstar in the future to update their bidding preferences prior to the closure of FSO 014/24, which closes 2359 AEST, 26/02/2024, particularly given the next FSO is likely to be some 6-8 months away.
Base Swap Proposal
New hire base allocations continue to be a source of frustration for many pilots despite the efforts that have been made to implement a fairer and more transparent base allocation process. More recently, pilots allocated base transfers have expressed frustration that their moving date is still many months aways, despite FO vacancies being advertised in their base and new hire pilots being offered contracts to commence employment in their base prior to their moving date. Meanwhile there are currently pilots based in Melbourne who want to based in Sydney and vice versa who have been allocated a base transfer but with a moving date later in this year.
We acknowledge the frustration pilots feel and assure you we continue to make representations to Jetstar on your behalf, however we are assured by Jetstar that the resource plan and moving pilot resources to different bases is highly complex and not as simplistic that we like to think that it should be!
Given the number of Captains and FOs not currently in their preferred base, the AFAP has put forward a Base Swap proposal that would allow pilots on the same fleet, rank and employment type to do a temporary roster swap for a up to 3 roster periods. The proposal sets out a transparent process for pilots to submit their application for a base swap in Rocade, with seniority determining who is successful.
The Chief Pilot was extremely receptive to this proposal and the Company have now taken it away for further consideration.
FWA for over 55’s/Transition for retirement
There is growing interest amongst pilots aged 55 and over in relation to transition to retirement type arrangements that will allow them to prolong their flying careers at Jetstar
This has come about predominately due to Jetstar’s only PT option, flexi-line, now being oversubscribed for the first time since Flexi-line was introduced in 2011 with wait periods for pilots to access or rollover their VFL term being over 12 months.
The recent amendments to the Fair Work Act around Flexible Workplace Agreements (FWA) which are designed to facilitate better access to Flexible work requests and reduce the ability of employers to reject those requests have also provoked interest from pilots wishing to transition to a less demanding and more flexible flying schedule.
In light of this, last year we asked Jetstar to reconsider the AFAP’s previously proposed Transition to Retirement (TTR) proposal which was tabled but not agreed by Jetstar during bargaining. TTR would enable pilots to work less than 12 roster periods (RPs) per annum to a minimum of 6 RPs by being able to take full roster periods of LWOP and would fit neatly within the scope of the current EA provisions.
While Jetstar stated that it is supportive of implementing a TTR framework, its formal response was that it is not currently in position to agree such arrangements due to its short/medium term resourcing constraints. However the Company did confirm that this is certainly something it would be amenable to discussing and formalising in a new EA.
The AFAP highlighted that in the in the meantime pilots in the 55 years and over bracket would likely be looking to request individual FWA’s to achieve their objective of transitioning to a less demanding and fatiguing flying schedule, which must then be considered and responded to by Jetstar on a case-by-case basis.
Jetstar acknowledged that this is the direction pilots would take and it will now turn its attention to what sorts of ‘flexible arrangements’ the business would be more agreeable to so that pilots could look to tailor their FWA requests accordingly if it suited their individual needs/objectives.
Unscheduled Overnights and Reimbursement for Essential Items
The AFAP raised concerns with clause 3.20.5 ‘Unplanned overnights’ from OM1. This clause states, “Crew are expected to be prepared for unexpected overnights, therefore additional claims for work-related items will not be payable.”
When applied literally by the NOAs/RFMs, this leaves no room for Jetstar to reimburse pilots for expenses incurred in the event of an unscheduled overnight in any circumstances, notwithstanding how reasonable a pilot’s expense claim may be.
The position advocated by the AFAP was that a ‘blanket no’ policy of reimbursing pilots for reasonable expenses incurred as a result of an unscheduled overnight was unreasonable and that some discretion by Jetstar management was required.
The Chief Pilot agreed that there may be exceptional circumstances/ occasions where a pilot incurs expenses due to an unscheduled overnight that they should be reimbursed for. Jetstar has undertaken to review the wording in the OM1 and we expect a revision will be made to allow discretion for management pilots to approve reimbursement of expense up to a certain limit on a case-by-case basis.
Long service leave at half pay
There is provision in some Long Service Leave legislation (i.e. Victoria) for an employee to request to take a period of LSL at half pay. Generally, an employer can only refuse such request if it is on ‘reasonable business grounds’.
Jetstar appear to be applying a blanket ban on approving LSL at half pay requests which is inconsistent with LSL legislation in some states. The AFAP has raised concerns with this approach and sought to understand in what circumstances Jetstar would approve LSL at half pay.
As part of these discussions, Jetstar has raised its projected long service leave liability and existing resourcing constraints as significant impediments to approving LSL at half pay requests.
The AFAP ‘s position is that it is incumbent on Jetstar to adopt a reasonable policy around how eligible pilots could access a period of LSL leave at half pay and demonstrate how it is complying with its obligations under long service leave legislation.
Network PIA
We recognise that members have a lot of questions regarding the ongoing protected industrial action (PIA) at Network.
To be clear, we are not aware of any instances when Jetstar line pilots have (or been asked) to perform duties that would ordinarily be performed by Network pilots.
In any event, Jetstar pilots are obligated to perform duties in accordance with their Enterprise Agreement and cannot refuse to perform duties because of PIA occurring in another operator.
We recognise that pilots are eager to support the AFAP members performing PIA at Network, and pilots wishing to understand what they can do can contact the AFAP.
Your pilot representatives are on hand if you have any questions regarding above. Alternatively, you can contact your AFAP industrial officers Deanna Cain, Pat Larkins or Andrew Molnar via email deanna@afap.org.au, patrick@afap.org.au, or andrew@afap.org.au or call (03) 9928 5737.
Regards
AFAP Jetstar Pilot Federation Committee
Darren Fielder, Jeremy MacPhail, Daniel Blakemore, Ed Greenidge, Yianni Manousaridis, Dominic Corcoran, Mark Buttel, Darren Davis, Chris Gibson, Clinton Baxter, Andrew Ward, Christopher Doyle, Christo Hailes, Paul Hogan, Raj Krishnan