VARA EA Update – Voting Opens Tonight
The AFAP (represented by pilot representative Paul Alexander and Senior Legal/ Industrial Officer Pat Larkins) have over the past weeks participated in the drafting of the final document with VARA, SALPA and TWU representatives.
As pilots will be aware, after the proposed Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Pilots Enterprise Agreement 2024 was finalised by the parties it was released last week for the consideration of the pilot group before voting opens tonight.
Vote Process
The vote opens Saturday 30 November at 0001 (AWST) and closes Thursday 5 December, 2359 (AWST).
The voting process will be facilitated by an external provider called CorpVote. If you have not received any information from CorpVote by today or are experiencing difficulties in lodging your vote, please contact them on their Voter Support number 1300 147 797. It is important you do this before the close of the voting period.
Be Informed Prior to Voting
The AFAP respect that the decision on whether to approve the agreement rests with the pilot group. We encourage all pilots to have a say over your working conditions by participating in the upcoming vote. Under the Fair Work Act for an agreement to be approved it requires support from a majority of those Pilots who vote. Therefore pilots who don’t vote don’t count.
Before voting, ensure you have read the agreement and materials provided by VARA and if you require clarification you can contact the AFAP on the details below.
AFAP Position on Document
The AFAP is not in a position to endorse this document despite the significant benefits on offer. This is due to the changes to the day off buffers which we discuss further below, which represent an issue our members indicated that they did not want to change.
The AFAP supports the release of the document so that pilots may make the decision as to whether to approve the document or not. The document contains substantial benefits and it is the AFAP view pilots should have an opportunity to vote given what it is on offer.
Our priority is pilots make an informed decision and to assess the document as a package weighing up the benefits against the offsets.
Further clarifications
The Chief Pilot has released communications clarifying ambiguities with the document. This confirms the classification structure for First Officers recognises service, including any prior Group Service. It also clarifies other changes relating to Part-Time days at work and clarification of the retention payment.
In voting pilots should consider these amendments as a legally enforceable term of the agreement like any other in the document. If the document is approved by pilots, the Fair Work Act provides mechanisms for these amendments to form part of the EA.
Yes Vote Provides Certainty
By voting yes pilots will have the certainty of locking in the improvements in the agreement as part of a 4 year deal (from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2028) including:
Salary increases
- Min 19.71% over the life of the EA for A320 (initial 8.5% + 4% + 3% + 3%)
- B737 Transition Plan pilots – Virgin Australia applicable Captain or First Officer hourly rate up to the VARA Productivity Threshold of 57.5 hours
- 47% over the life of the EA for F100 – 7.5% + 3% + 3% + 3%
- EJet – New rates from July 2025 + 3% + 3%
Retention Payment
- Applies to A320, F100 and EJet & commences September 2025
- Paid as a lump sum to Pilots employed in September each year, based on all flying and paid training hours with a minimum floor (3% x base hourly rate x 661.25 hrs)
- A320, F100 and B737 Transition Plan Pilots continue to receive 2% additional superannuation
Superannuation
Training and Checking
- New allowances of 16% for Check Captains, 13% for Senior Training Captains and 10% Simulator Ground Instructor and Training First Officers
- Check and Training Pilots undertaking simulator instructor or examiner duties receives 5.5 credit hours, and conducting ground instruction or induction duties receives 4.5 credits
- A320 and F100 – to the first full pay period after 1 July 2024
- B737 Transition Plan pilots – for hourly rate back paid to 30 September 2024. For VARA allowances (e.g. Productivity Rate) back paid to the first full pay period after 1 July 2024.
Backpay of salaries, productivity payment and nominated allowances
Sign on bonus
- A one-off payment applying to A320 and F100 Pilots, equivalent to the September 2024/Year one minimum Retention Payment
Days off
- Increases from 8 to 9 RDOs per roster period
- Consists of 4x pairs + 1x single (any further split results in an additional day off with the ability to bid to have a block of 3x RDOs)
- Increased use of Blank Days with a new definition of minimum 20 hours free of duty (does not absorb day off buffers)
Classification structure
- Introduction of a new skill based classification structure for CPTs, with compression from 10 to 4 levels for the A320 and 10 to 1 level for the F100, resulting in even greater pay increases depending on a pilots existing level
- Recognition of years of service for FOs
Productivity Rate
- Year 1 of the Productivity Rate increases by 26%, then 3% PA
Allowances
- Increase by 3% PA
- Flat payment for first 4.5 hours, with Productivity Rate per hour, or part thereof, worked after that
- Infringement Payment
- Infringing a day off for 2 hours or less = 2.5 hrs Productivity Payment, more than 2 hours = RDO Payment; after midnight = RDO Payment
RDO Payment
Displaced Flying
New clause added to protect flight hours for pilots displaced by a Pilot under training
Weekends off
Part-time
- Minimum part-time percentage doubles from 5% to 10%, with a component allocated to permanent part-time used for transition to retirement
- New PT50 roster option, in addition to PT60 and PT80, and preservation of existing arrangements for set days
- Parental leave - increase in paid parental leave under the EA from 10 to 12 weeks for a primary caregiver, and from 2 to 4 weeks for a secondary caregiver
Fatigue management - new fatigue management provisions which mean that where a Pilot removes themselves from flying due to operational fatigue, they retain the Flight Time for the removed Duty
Day off buffers
The document includes a change from 64 to 60 hours for 2 RDOs, but maintains 40 hours for a single RDO. This was something your reps argued against however Virgin’s position was it was funding the other benefits in the EA.
The buffer change still represents the leading RDO hours in in the industry and further must be considered in light of the provision of an additional day off. Ultimately each pilot must consider whether this change is sufficient to vote no and put at risk the other benefits in the EA.
Risks of a No vote
It is each pilots decision how you vote, but we ask that you consider that the consequences of a no vote are uncertain. By voting yes pilots lock in the certainty of the new salary and conditions for the next four years. In contrast, the consequences of rejecting this offer are far from certain and inevitably will lead to delay due to the Christmas period and as the AFAP along with SALPA and the TWU assess our next steps.
There is no requirement for the Company to improve the offer or indeed keep the current offer on the table. Essentially everything we have negotiated is up for grabs.
The Company has also made clear that backpay will be not be paid to July in the event of a no vote. While Virgin must negotiate in good faith following a no vote, nothing requires that this means the same backpay or sign on bonus is included. Further we note the Virgin Narrow Body pilots received backpay to September 2024 following there no vote after the initial document included backpay to July 2024.
We ask that after considering the above information, document and supporting material you make a balanced and informed decision.
AFAP pilot representative Paul Alexander is on hand if you have any questions regarding the above. Alternatively, you can contact AFAP Senior industrial/ Legal Officer Pat Larkins by email at patrick@afap.org.au or by calling (03) 9928 5737.
Regards,
AFAP VARA Negotiating Team
Paul Alexander
Pat Larkins – Senior Legal/ Industrial Officer