AFAP Update - Bonza Members
AFAP Update
Given the significant developments at Bonza over the past couple of days, the AFAP is contacting you and all other members, to ensure that you all have access to relevant information.
Initial AFAP Contact
On Tuesday (30/4) afternoon all members at Bonza should have received a call from one of the AFAP's Senior Industrial Officers - James Mattner.
James attempted to phone each and every AFAP member that was currently listed on the AFAP files, as working at Bonza. In circumstances where James did not get to speak directly to an individual member, a SMS was sent as a follow-up.
Going forward, if any member wants to speak to the AFAP, please contact either:
In circumstances where any colleague at Bonza turns out to be an AFAP member, but has never received a phone call or a subsequent SMS from James, please recommend to them that they should call either James or Jason urgently.
Member Assistance Program
All members of the AFAP (and with AFAP approval, their immediate family too) are entitled to use the Member Assistance Program (MAP). The MAP is a short-term 24/7 counselling and advisory service, where professional assistance from psychologists trained in pilot-specific issues is available.
The contact number for MAP - 1300 307 912.
The service is confidential, and your personal information will not be discussed with anyone, including the AFAP.
Administrators - Bonza
As all Bonza pilots should now know, the firm Hall Chadwick had been appointed as Administrators for Bonza Airlines.
If you were not able to participate in the videoconference conducted by Hall Chadwick staff on Tuesday (30/4) night, the AFAP would strongly encourage ever member to make the effort to participate in the next meeting, that apparently has been scheduled for this evening (starting at 1800 AEST).
Separate to that, the AFAP contacted Hall Chadwick yesterday & stressed to them the necessity for the firm to keep the Pilot group updated. The AFAP offered any assistance that we can provide to Hall Chadwick, to ensure that occurs.
The AFAP has since had a further brief discussion this afternoon with Hall Chadwick staff, focused on making arrangements for a meeting with them and Bonza representatives in the next 24- 48 hours. The AFAP's aim is to establish, on behalf of members, a reliable and effective communication channel with Hall Chadwick staff ASAP.
Voluntary Administration Information
The Australian Security and Investment Commission (ASIC) provides relevant 'Fact Sheets' for employees of companies that go into voluntary administration:
The link to those Fact Sheets are:
Insolvency information for directors, employees, creditors and shareholders | ASIC
Voluntary administration: A guide for employees | ASIC
In addition to those pages, there is also a link (below) to information about the Fair Entitlement Guarantee scheme:
Fair Entitlements Guarantee - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government (dewr.gov.au)
The AFAP would encourage you and every member to closely read the Fact Sheets, in order to better understand the current situation that you, your colleagues and Bonza all currently find yourself in.
AFAP Membership Fees
Any AFAP member at Bonza who pays their AFAP fees quarterly (each 3 months), would have been due very soon to make their next membership payment.
However, the AFAP's Executive Director - Simon Lutton - has instructed the AFAP's Membership team that no member at Bonza on quarterly membership accounts will be expected to make any such payment for the upcoming 3 months, given the current uncertainty as to what will eventuate at Bonza.
What Next?
Hall Chadwick's staff will undoubtedly be speaking daily to senior Bonza managers.
However, it is crucial for all AFAP members to understand that currently it is Hall Chadwick staff that are now running the organisation (even if only temporarily).
As such, it is critical that as many AFAP members as possible get involved in tonight's scheduled meeting with Hall Chadwick staff (and any subsequent meetings that they may schedule). To make the most of the meeting, the AFAP would strongly recommend that all members try to have a prior look at the material linked to this Update. With the advantage of reading the various Fact Sheets, you will have a better understanding of the exact situation you and your colleagues all find yourself in at the moment, and it will enable everyone to ask more pertinent questions of Hall Chadwick staff.