Pel-Air Vic & NSW Aeromedical - EA Bargaining Updates
On Thursday, 8 August 2024, the AFAP met with Pel-Air for a further negotiation meeting for your new enterprise agreement. Attending for the AFAP were Gerald Taffs (Pilot Representative), Tim Urquhart (Pilot Representative, Jason Newell (AFAP Industrial Officer) and Andrew Molnar (AFAP Legal Counsel). Attending for Pel-Air were Paula Tran (Human Resources Manager), Fred Collas (Chief Pilot), Eugene Lee (COO), Daniel Fitzpatrick (Flight Operations Manager), Madeleine Ward (Base Manager) and Ugljesa Mihailovid (Base Manager).
EA Remuneration Claims
Having previously informed Pel-Air that its pilots were significantly being underpaid when compared to equivalent operators such as RFDS Qld and CareFlight NT, the AFAP in consultation with your pilot representatives provided a remuneration proposal (which can be viewed in attachments [AFAP 4 June 2024 - Document 1]). Pel-Air’s response requested further information on the basis of the claim [Pel-Air 1 July 2024 - Document 2].
AFAP’s provided further detailed information to support its claim [AFAP 18 July 2024 Document 3]. Pel-Air responded on the day of last Thursday’s meeting [Pel-Air 8 August 2024 - Document 4].
During the meeting, Pel-Air confirmed that it’s remuneration offer for your new enterprise agreement is what you are currently receiving. Although Pel-Air discussed the possibility of rearranging various allowances to go into base pay, it is unlikely that this will in any way be acceptable. Pel-Air appears to be deaf to the disparity between what it pays its pilots and what equivalent operators pay.
On Friday 16 August 2024 Pel-Air provided a without prejudice remuneration offer [Pel -Air 16 August 2024 – Document 5], that confirms the concerns of limited movement by Pel-Air.
AFAP & Pel-Air EA Bargaining Correspondence Link
EA Rostering Claims
We also discussed the rostering principles that the AFAP previously provided to Pel-Air [AFAP 26 June 2024 - Document 6]. Pel-Air’s response [Pel-Air 7 August 2024 - Document 7] did show that there was room for discussion, although agreement has not been reached.
Rex Administration
Finally, at the end of the meeting, the parties discussed the effect of certain Rex entities going into voluntary administration. Pel-Air has not gone into administration. There have been several 737 pilots who are being picked up by Pel-Air, which will assist to a degree (at least for a short time) the issues arising from both bases being under complement.
Next Steps
The next steps are that the parties are to further consider some of the rostering issues that were discussed in last Thursday’s meeting and will then reconvene. In addition, the AFAP will consult with your pilot’s representatives on appropriate response to the remuneration offer, and potential actions to take in the Fair Work Commission.
With no real movement during the meeting on remuneration, we should be prepared to exercise our other avenues under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), such as seeking the assistance of the Fair Work Commission to assist in resolving the bargaining dispute or protected industrial action.
The pilots initiated bargaining with the objective for a sustainable environment with fair and competitive remuneration and balanced rosters that support work life balance – the next steps may require a response that can demonstrate views on whether this has been achieved.
If you have any questions at all, please contact your pilot representatives, Gerald Taffs, Zach Buckle and Tim Urquhart.
Alternatively you can always contact Jason Newell (
jason@afap.org.au) and Andrew Molnar (
andrew@afap.org.au) by email or by phone on (03) 9928 5737.