AFAP Narrow Body EA Update No 16 - Document Released to Pilots
The Virgin EA negotiations have now concluded, and the Company yesterday sent out a
final draft copy of the proposed Virgin Australia Narrow Body Pilots’ Enterprise Agreement 2024 (“EA”) to all pilots for review in the lead up to voting.
The proposed EA is endorsed by the AFAP as it contains substantial improvements to your current EA. Attached
here is a table outlining the keys gains and offset in the proposed EA compared to your current terms and conditions.
This is not the first offer to be put forward by Virgin. The AFAP have rejected many throughout bargaining. Negotiations have at times been heated and we have used the pressure of the availability of PIA from 1 July to achieve an outcome that we can recommend to our members. We are proud to have negotiated an outcome without the need for PIA.
Additionally, as we articulated at the time of reaching in principle agreement, we believe that we have reached the best possible outcome for Virgin pilots without exposing the Virgin pilot group to further risk or uncertainty. Pilots can be assured that we have left no stone unturned in seeking the best package possible.
We welcome the opportunity for pilots to have the document and be able to vote before the expiry of the current EA. This provides pilots with the opportunity to draw a line under the 2021 EA (negotiated during administration).
The proposed EA as a total package will restore annual earnings from the 2018 EA accounting for cost-of-living increases since 2020.The proposed EA retains critical fatigue and lifestyle work rules and we have also secured improvements in addition to the 2018 EA which we will outline in further updates.
We reiterate the need to take time to consider all the elements of the package and welcome members sending emails, posting on the forum or contacting the EA team to ask questions.
If you haven’t already done your own analysis of the future earning potential under the proposed EA, we strongly encourage to do so by plugging in data into the AFAP’s pay calculator (which has been updated for part-time increases) attached here for
full-time and
part-time pilots. Please refer to AFAP Narrow Body EA Update # 11 for explanatory notes on the parameters that can be changed in the pay calculator.
Access Period
Although the proposed document has been made available to pilots from yesterday, the formal ‘access period’ under the Fair Work Act (which requires that a proposed EA and any material incorporated by reference in the Agreement be accessible for at least 7 days prior to the vote) will not commence until this Friday, 14 June. At that time, the Company will distribute a final proposed EA, along with any other relevant material.
Voting will open on 21 June and close on 25 June. The AFAP requested that the document be released to pilots prior to the formal access period to allow the maximum time for consideration. This EA contains a number of significant changes and enhancements to the current EA and it is important pilots are given a proper opportunity to consider these changes.
This additional period of review will give all Pilots the opportunity to raise any concerns over drafting or clause references etc., with either the Company or the AFAP. That will allow any issues to be clarified or corrected in the document (if necessary) prior to the formal access period commencing.
However, it is important to note that negotiations have concluded. As such, whilst any errors can be corrected, clauses cannot be renegotiated, or new claims pursued.
AFAP Webinars
To further assist pilots with their analysis of the document the AFAP will be providing explanatory material around the more significant changes over the next week. The AFAP negotiating team will also be conducting Webinars in the week commencing 17 June, providing a detailed presentation on the document and answering questions from pilots. We will advise of times and dates as soon as they are confirmed.
We urge you to take the time to carefully read the EA document along with any other material from your negotiating team and assess the package in its entirety. If you have any questions or concerns over any aspects of the document, we encourage you to raise these directly with the AFAP negotiating team who will be best placed to provide an answer or an explanation.
Finally, thank you all for your patience and support over the last couple of months whilst we have finalised the drafting of the document. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Webinars.
Questions
As always members should contact the elected representatives directly, or alternatively post on the AFAP Forum (
https://afapvpf.discussioncommunity.com) or email
virginNBEBA@afap.org.au should you have any questions or feedback regarding EA negotiations.
Alternatively, email general industrial queries to
virginAIC@afap.org.au, Safety and Technical matters to
technical@afap.org.au, and HOTAC issues/ reports to
HOTAC@afap.org.au.
Regards,
AFAP 2024 EA Negotiating Team
First Officer Steve Hungerford – Chair
First Officer Shaun Rudduck – Vice-Chair
Captain Ben Raby
Captain Brad Wilson
Captain Mark Bannister
Pat Larkins – AFAP Senior Industrial/ Legal Officer
Deanna Cain – AFAP Senior Industrial/ Legal Officer