AFAP Update – Skippers Aviation Bargaining Oct 2024
The AFAP (Industrial Officer, Jason Newell) met with Skippers CEO and management pilots on 9 Oct 2024 via MS teams to discuss progressing bargaining towards a new proposed Skippers Aviation Enterprise Agreement (EA).
The meeting was the first meeting since bargaining commenced back in July 2024, please note the AFAP agreed to defer meetings during September due to key staff leave in Skippers.
On the 9 Oct 2024, the Skippers Aviation CEO discussed some of the pilot’s feedback and claims, and informed us that he is was working on a draft new EA. There was some opposition to many changes to the EA and expressed concerns on additional costs of the retention based payments and productivity payment for overtime. However, the existing practices not in the EA, double shift/recall practices were stated would now be included in a new agreement.
The preliminary view is that the CEO may not supported significant changes or costs to existing conditions – however the AFAP view this out of date EA needs to catch up to the aviation industry in a few areas.
The AFAP has reviewed the recent changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the FW Act), (Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act 2022 (Cth), Closing Loopholes Act 2023 (Cth), Closing Loopholes Act No.2 2024 (Cth) ) and also changes that have occurred to the Air Pilots Award 2020 (the Award) since the approval of the current EA in Skippers Aviation (approved back in Dec 2016).
Based on that review, and the AFAP are the default representative for AFAP members, we are submitting a log of claims (LOC) from the AFAP to Skippers Aviation management reps in week of 21 Oct 2024 that based on various pilot discussions works towards a potential way forward.
A new proposed EA, requires some modernisation due to changes to the FW Act and the Award, and also to work on these key areas of improvement to a new EA.
- All pay levels (1-3) must be above minimum Award salary and competitive to both Schedule A and Schedule B pay rates (as Skippers competes with labour market operating same aircraft type).
- Above Award remuneration, with fair progression & pay increases.
- Retention strategy (to align into progression of remuneration through the levels).
- Structured Work Hours (and potential opt-in averaging arrangement with an overtime rate above 152 hours in a 4 week period).
- Training Bonds at fixed rate for life of the agreement (and limited to Award scope).
- Rostering Principles that are agreed and support structured work practices that assist to maintain work life balance.
Based on the AFAP review, feedback from pilots and some preliminary views from Skippers the AFAP draft claims are consistent to much of the pilot feedback, however also suggested alternate approaches to same ideas (i.e. retention) in the attached draft claims.
Skippers Pilots - Review Your Draft EA Claims
See attached the AFAP ‘DRAFT’ Skippers EA claims to be submitted to the employer (due approx. week of Mon 21 Oct 2024).
Key Pilot Questions on Draft Claims
To assist us help you and future pilots that come after you, please provide some feedback on proposed ideas in the AFAP claims, as per queries below.
7. Do you support a structure and strategy for proposed progression of remuneration during the life of the career at Skippers (ongoing progression in remuneration and bonus retention), and when progression limited to result in a retention payment? (See draft claims).
8. Would you opt-in? If Skippers agree to an employee opt-in to an average hour’s arrangement for a period of 4 weeks (152 hours, or 38 hours per week average) with an overtime rate of pay when exceeding these hours?
9. Do you support a proposed overtime rate of pay at rate 125% of usual hourly rate?
10. Do you support the draft AFAP claims (attached) to be presented to the Skippers management reps next week?
11. If required, we can take time to further discuss/amend proposed claims also.
Please provide your feedback on draft claims to the AFAP via Jason@afap.org.au before Monday 21 Oct 2024.
If you have any queries, concerns, or would like to assist further during the EA negotiations process please contact the AFAP.
Yours sincerely,
The AFAP Industrial Team