As you aware, Skytraders has seen fit to proceed with putting out its current offer to vote. You would have yesterday received the proposed agreement and associated material. You should read all that material carefully.
The AFAP does not support the proposed agreement. It has expressly told Skytraders that it will not support the proposed agreement. The proposed agreement is deficient. If rostering and remuneration were addressed, the AFAP’s views may change. The issues of rostering and remuneration have not been addressed satisfactorily.
The AFAP recommends you vote no. It does not support the proposed agreement.
If this agreement fails to be voted up, then negotiations will continue.
We have already made a section 240 application in the Fair Work Commission. This resulted in the Commission conducting conferences with the AFAP and Skytraders. That application is still alive, and we may request further conferences after the vote if appropriate.
Protected industrial action is another avenue that is open to us.
The AFAP will also press for Skytrader’s application for the Zombie agreement to extend to be determined by the Commission.
While the access period is open, you should take note of any parts of the agreement that do not make sense, are confusing or unclear, or that are particularly unsatisfactory. It is imperative that you understand exactly what you are voting on.
Please send through those questions to the AFAP (either directly or through your pilot representatives) and we will compile them to send to Skytraders. Skytraders should respond to those questions in writing, and publish its responses to the pilot group. We will send the first tranche of questions on Monday next week, 9 December 2024. We can always ask more questions after that.
Most importantly, it is crucial that everyone actually cast a vote. Pilots who do not cast a vote do not have a say. You should ensure that Skytraders hears your views through your vote.
If you have any questions in relation to the content of this briefing, or any other matter, please contact Andrew Molnar (
andrew@afap.org.au), alternatively, you can call on (03) 9928 5737.
Your AFAP Industrial Team