What does "Agreement reached" mean?
As your pilot representatives and Skytraders have informed you, the AFAP has reached in principal agreement with Skytraders on your new enterprise agreement (EA). We reached this agreement at the second 448A conference before Commissioner Wilson on Tuesday afternoon, 14 February 2025.
Although the AFAP and Skytraders did not agree on every item sought by the AFAP, we think that this EA overall constitutes a good EA. We understand that not every claim made by the Pilots was achieved, however the EA contains many excellent benefits for all fleets.
The AFAP supports this EA, and recommends you vote yes.
We do not propose to go through the EA in detail in this update. However, we would make note of the following improvements in this agreement when compared to your Zombie agreement. This list is not exhaustive.
Increased rates of pay:
- A320 Series Captain: $255,000
- A320 Series FO: $170,000
- B350 Pilot: $160,000
- C212 Captain: $138,000
- C212 FO: $109,000
For the B350 and C212 Pilots there are in addition increments based on each individual pilot's length of service and anniversary date of the EA. These increments vary between fleet and rank.
Rostered Days Off protections:
- RDOs will be locked in over the entire roster period.
- RDOs must be at home base.
- RDOs can only be worked if agreed to by the Pilot and will be remunerated by double time and a Day in Lieu.
- RDOs must be at home base. Rostered Days Off can only be worked if agreed to by the Pilot.
- Protections are built in if a duty extends into an RDO (being after 2200 the day preceding the Day in Lieu).
Paxing flights over 6 hours will be in either business class or premium economy.
For the B350 fleet, increased number of RDOs/DFODs where rostered more than 80 hours per fortnight (including standby).
Jurisdiction to arbitrate provided to the Fair Work Commission in the event of disputes.
Watering down of the stand down clause.
In general, updating your entitlements to reflect current legislation and regulatory requirements.
The EA will be explained in greater detail in due course.
Now that agreement has been reached between the AFAP and Skytraders, you, the pilot group, must vote on the EA. Only if a majority of you who cast a valid vote say yes to the EA, will it then be provided to the Fair Work Commission for approval. If that does not occur, the parties return to negotiation.
What happens with the Protected Industrial Action Vote?
The protected industrial action ballot is still on foot, and the vote closes today at 1400 AEDT. We will let you know of the results as soon as Democratic Outcomes, the ballot agent, provides them to us.
Notwithstanding that agreement between the AFAP and Skytraders has been reached, that voting process should continue, and we still recommend you vote yes. In the event that the EA is voted down by the pilot group, the ability to take protected industrial action will be critical.
Having said that, the AFAP recommends that you vote yes to the EA. As noted above, although not everything sought was achieved, the EA on an overall basis is a good EA.
Importantly, the AFAP has undertaken to Commissioner Wilson that, should any forms of industrial action be voted up by the Pilots today, no notification of taking protected industrial action will be notified to Skytraders until the results of the EA vote are known. This means that no industrial action will be taken until we know whether or not this EA is successful.
It is a good EA now and will form an excellent base from which to commence bargaining in 4 years' time. It is an excellent replacement for your old, out of date Zombie Agreement. This EA reflects current legislative and industry norms.
What happens to the Zombie Agreement?
Should the EA be voted up and approved by the Fair Work Commission (which we recommend happening), your Zombie agreement will terminate upon the new EA commencing operation.
Your Zombie agreement can never be revived.
Your Pilot Representatives
Your pilot representatives, Victoria McFarlane, Louise and Rod Robertson, and Jai Hickey have invested considerable resources and personal time to achieve this excellent result. The AFAP thanks them for their work and efforts. Those efforts should also be recognised by the broad pilot group. Your pilot representatives, the AFAP and Skytraders have worked collaboratively and constructively over the last year to reach this point.
During the process leading up to the vote on the EA, details of which Skytraders will provide to you in due course, we urge you to view the EA favourably. If you have any questions about the agreement, reach out to your pilot representatives of the AFAP.
This deal is a good deal. It is not perfect (no deal is), but it is a good deal. The AFAP recommends you vote yes.
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