By now you all should have received either email and/or SMS contact from the ballot agent, Democratic Outcomes, in relation to the vote for protected industrial action.
The ballot will open tomorrow,
Friday 10 January 2025 at 0900 AEDT, and will close on
Friday 17 January 2025 at 1400 AEDT. Make sure you vote. You will be sent details on how to do this shortly before the vote opens.
You will be asked to vote on 12 separate forms of industrial action. These proposed forms of industrial action cover a number of different scenarios and not all proposed forms of industrial action will apply to all fleets in the same way.
We advise pilots to vote yes to each of the 12 separate forms of industrial action. By voting yes to each form of action, you will be sending a strong message to Skytraders that you are prepared to take those actions in support of an acceptable agreement being put out to vote.
Your vote is secret, no one else will be told how you vote unless you tell them. Skytraders will see how many pilots voted, but not their identity. There is strength in numbers and 100% of pilots voting yes for all actions will show that strength.
By voting yes to a form of action, it does not necessarily mean that the particular action will be taken. Once a form of action is voted up, it means that the action is available to us going forward. It does not have to be used. This is why all pilots should vote yes to each form of action. This will allow for the greatest choice going forward.
Which actions will be taken and when will be decided and notified in due course. Actions can be notified and taken at different times, they do not have be taken all together. They do not have to be taken immediately. We have flexibility in how to exercise approved forms of industrial action.
Under the Rules of the AFAP, the taking of protected industrial action must be approved by the AFAP Executive Committee. A special AFAP Executive Committe meeting for the sole purpose of considering that approval has been convened for Friday 17 January 2025 at 1300 AEDT. We expect of course that the approval will be provided by Executive. The AFAP supports the rights of all its members to take protected industrial action where necessary and justified.
Remember, no action can be taken until you are advised that it can be taken by the AFAP.
Make sure you vote, and vote yes to each of the 12 separate forms of industrial action. Vote early. You have nothing to lose from voting yes to each form of action. You are not committed to taking the actions by voting yes. By voting yes, you show the collective strength of the pilot group.
If you have any questions regarding this update, you can contact Andrew Molnar (AFAP Legal Counsel) on
andrew@afap.org.au or alternatively on (03) 9928 5737.
Your AFAP Industrial Team