Eastern Pilot Council Update - April 2024
Welcome to the first Eastern Pilot Council update for 2024. Firstly we would like to thank those pilots who gave their time to work over the Christmas and New Year’s periods, and for those pilots who will be working over the upcoming Easter period. If you haven’t done so already, please check your Qantas email if you worked Christmas Day as you should have received your $100 digital gift card. Additionally, if you worked during the period of 18 December - 31 January you should have received 500 ThankQ points.
Your EPC held their last meeting on Wednesday 28 February 2024. This update will cover the main items that have arisen during this meeting and since the previous update, including the new EBA 2023 which was recently approved, the fleet transition scheduled for Sydney and an update on the current meals situation.
EPC committee update
Firstly we would like to thank Will Hamilton for his service over the previous 12 months on the EPC. Will was a crucial part of the EBA negotiations during this time and has recently accepted an offer outside of QantasLink. The EPC wishes Will the very best for the next chapter of his career.
We also would like to take this time to announce that Jess Chong has joined the EPC. Jess is a Sydney based Q400 Captain and has been assisting the EPC with roster checking for the previous 6 months. We are excited to have Jess working with us, helping to ensure we can deliver the best support to our pilots. Welcome aboard Jess!
For any pilots who are interested, there is still 1 open position on the EPC committee. This role is open to all members, regardless of rank or length of service. As the current EPC was elected in 2022, this role would be a casual position for approximately 4 months before a re-election is called around October. If you are interested in getting involved, even to see what it’s like, please reach out to any of your representatives and we can facilitate your attendance at our next meeting in May.
Meals
The current meal matrix has been in place for approximately 12 months now, and the latest meal inspection took place on 21 March in Melbourne. At this meeting, we were pleased to confirm that main portions will be moving back to a 6 monthly rotation which aligns us with the Business class offering. We expect the new rotation to begin sometime in May.
We recognise that there have been issues with meals, specifically meals outside the matrix being presented to crew. The position of the Company is that every effort will be made in the future to adhere to agreed meals, however some instances may occur which require variation, and any main meal variation will be in consultation with the Meals representative. The provision of fruit and seasonal items has also been clarified, meaning that crew should expect fruit that is seasonally available and substitution may occur, for example, an apple for a banana or a different fruit salad containing grapes instead of strawberries.
There has been some confusion regarding what to expect on each tray. The intention is that crew will receive what is approved. Items may be placed on different trays to those agreed, however as long as all items are present then the meal is approved. Notwithstanding this, if any item is not present or the meal is clearly inappropriate (e.g. cold or obviously spoilt) then a photo of the entire tray should be taken and a meal claim submitted.
The Company have also agreed to introduce a new form on Comply365 in the near future. This form is intended to be used as a quick way to report any meal issues. This will then be sent to both the Meals representative and the Company and will allow both sides to quickly address any issues that arise. We strongly encourage all crew to use the form in additional to a meal claim when it goes live.
Meals while paxing
We have received some questions regarding paxing in business class during a meal period, where pilots are given a tray but the main portion is not suitable as other options have been exhausted on full fare passengers. Not suitable in this case refers to portions that do not contain a significant amount of protein, such as a soup, vegetarian options, cheese and olive platter and the like.
If this occurs, we suggest that you take a photo of the entire tray before consuming the meal. You are then advised to contact Tim Anderson so it can be followed up to determine whether a meal claim is payable. If you are to operate after paxing, you should consider your fitness to fly and attempt to obtain adequate sustenance in the destination terminal before continuing your duty.
Melbourne meals situation/cold meals trial
We are aware of the ongoing meal issues in Melbourne, specifically relating to the breakfast options being provided to crew. This was discussed with the Company at our latest meeting and several options were explored, including the inclusion of a 3rd, cold meal being loaded as a trial. Unfortunately the Company has informed us that they are unable to provide 3 trays to crew. As such, your EPC explored cold options at the recent meal presentation, which we deemed as suitable, and pending pilot approval will commence the trial as soon as possible. DNATA has confirmed that if we wish to proceed, they are able to facilitate a 3 month trial.
Consequently we're running a quick survey of the Melbourne pilots to decide if you are OK that we trial a 1 hot/1 cold option for three months. We will then request feedback from pilots on whether the quality has improved and if this is an option that would be preferred continuing forward. The proposed trial will only be applicable for the breakfast period, and no changes are proposed to crew receiving 2 hot dinners. Please access the short survey here that will run for 7 days.
During this time there is no change proposed for crew operating ex-Sydney for any meal periods.
EBA Update
We are pleased to announce that the 2023 Eastern Pilot EBA was approved on 13 February and took effect on 20 February. The new EBA has a range of benefits to all pilots, including higher base pay, DHA or DHAA election, 9 RDOs guaranteed per roster eventually becoming 10 when establishment numbers allow, and a superannuation guarantee of minimum + 1% which means pilots will now see 12% being paid.
By now, everyone should have received their backpay, which was delivered across the previous 2 pay cycles. For further information, payslips are available on Workday and you can consult the AAB which breaks down the different categories that backpay was applicable. If you have any issues, please contact your SBP.
DHA/DHAA
Another new component of the EBA is the choice between DHA and DHAA for pilots. DHA will be paid at a higher rate ($16.50 CPT/$10.73 FO) and only payable for actual duty hours worked. DHAA will be paid at a lower rate ($11.82 CPT/$7.69 FO) but will be paid for all time spent away from home base on a duty; ie paid from sign on at home base to sign off at home base, including time spent at a hotel.
Elections for DHA/DHAA closed on 24 March. If you didn’t nominate a preference, you will remain on DHA at the higher rate. For all pilots, your election will remain until the next window opens in 2025. You will only need to complete a new form in 2025 if you wish to move from one option to the other. For pilots wishing to maintain their current choice, no action is required.
RDO entitlements
As part of the recently approved EBA 2023, pilots will now receive either 9 or 10 RDOs per roster. As previously indicated by the Company, pilots should expect to have their 10th RDO bought-back prior to roster publication at a rate of “a single day’s pay” until establishment numbers are reached that will allow each pilot to receive 10 RDOs. Timing for the payment will usually occur in the first pay cycle of a roster where the day is bought back, as detailed in the recent AAB. The EPC and the Company are also in discussions with regards to an opt-in system for pilots who want to have their day-bought back automatically as we approach establishment numbers for 10 RDOs.
The Company additionally has indicated that where a pilot has at least 1 full week of annual leave in a roster period, the pilot will receive 10 RDOs for that roster and won’t have the RDO buy-back applied. This means that when a pilot has 1 week of annual leave, they should receive 8 RDOs in addition to the week of leave, 5 RDOs if the pilot has 2 weeks of leave, and 3 RDOs if the pilot has 3 weeks of leave.
Fleet transition
The Company has informed the EPC, and all pilots via the latest Chief Pilot Update, of their intention to phase the Q300 out of Sydney to redeploy them in Melbourne and Adelaide whilst retaining all Q200 airframes for use in Sydney. As a result, this will require some pilots to be re-trained from the sustaining fleet to the Q400. At the last meeting, we were advised that the Sydney Q200 operation will require 15 pilots for 3 lines of flying.
The first group of pilots to join the re-training pipeline are those listed in VN2/24. The Company has indicated that these pilots should expect their training to occur prior to 1 July 2024 as the first 3 airframes move into Sydney ex-QLD. Due to the planned introduction of the 4th Q400 in October 2024, the Company are expecting to advertise another Vacancy Notice around July 2024 for those other sustaining fleet pilots who wish to move across.
Welfare
As a reminder to all members, your EPC team and the AFAP does provide support for pilots who may be facing challenges in their lives, whether personal or professional, mental or physical. Any discussions you have with either your pilot representatives, or the professional AFAP services are strictly confidential.
If you do need any support, your EPC representatives are Brendan Quaife in Sydney and Shabbir Parekh in Melbourne. Additionally, if you would like to get in touch with someone from the AFAP head-office directly, you are able to contact Joanne Janes who is the AFAP’s Welfare Coordinator. There is also the Member Assistance Program (MAP), or of course the AFAP industrial Officer Chris Aikens, contact details of all are below at the end of this update.
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read this update. If you have any feedback or questions arising from this update, please reach out to any of our representatives below for further assistance. As always, happy and safe flying from your Eastern EPC.
Nathan Hayes (Chair/Rostering/Accommodation) 0415 290 634
Ben Moss (Vice Chair/Technical) 0448 334 135
Tim Anderson (Secretary/Meals) 0447 813 447
Shabbir Parekh (Welfare)
Brendan Quaife (Welfare)
James Kosenko (Membership)
Jess Chong (Rostering)
In addition to your Council Committee member there is AFAP staff members Chris Aikens on
chris@afap.org.au or Jo Janes on
joanne@afap.org.au (please note Jo is currently away on leave until early May). The AFAP Member Assistance Program (MAP) can be contacted via Freecall 1300 307 912.