2025 – EA Year for NJS Pilots – Preparations in Motion
In light of the last EA forced though during the tail end of the pandemic, your Council are fully aware that with 2025 being the year in which we commence negotiations for the next EA, just how important preparation and organisation will be for this crucial replacement EA.
Consequently, at the conclusion of the most recent Council Meeting discussions were held around the steps required in the run up to negotiations commencing at the end of September 2025 (9 months prior to the expiry of the current EA).
There are two key aspects in the run up to these negotiations. One will be the planning and engagement with members to develop a log of claims that can be tabled early once negotiations have commenced. The second is the need for as many NJS pilots as possible to become a member of the AFAP. It will only be with high membership density that ALL industrial options will be accessible to your negotiators should significant hurdles be encountered during these negotiations.
Regarding the planning and member engagement for the log of claims, your Council have devised the following plan:
- An outcome is soon expected of the Network Arbitration. As a point of reference we believe that examining what an independent body (the FWC) deems as an appropriate EA for a Qlink jet operation, will be of some assistance in a log of claim formulation.
- Following a brief period of digesting the FWC decision, your Council intends to then survey the membership group to get a rough outline of ‘key issues’ that the pilot group would like to see in a log of claims. This expected in/around May 2025.
- After collating the responses and advising members of the initial feedback, the next step will be to hold face to face member meetings to further equip your negotiating team with vital information around both the AFAP claim and the strength of feeling in the membership group regarding how far they are willing to go in pursuit of those claims. These meeting are expected in/around June/July.
- Finalise a log of claims which will be put out to the member group for their endorsement. This will be in/around August.
- Commence Negotiations end of September.
It is vitally important now for members to engage with their colleagues around both content of any such claim and encouraging membership of the AFAP. While the old adage of ‘strength through unity’ may seem a little outdated, it is actually the cornerstone of effective negotiations and ensuring the highest levels of AFAP membership will not only ensure the log of claims is fully representative of the pilot group, it will also send a clear message to NJS that the pilot group are keen to see the wrongs of the last EA being rectified.
In accordance with the plan detailed above as soon as the FWC decision is handed down we shall forward this to members to review. We shall then commence the preparation of the survey as per point 2. If for whatever reason the FWC decision is delayed the subsequent steps will still occur as planned.
As always your Council is available for thoughts and feedback:
Anthony Clouting on clouters@me.com
Eric Galliers on ericgalliers@hotmail.com
Justin Gordon on justin.gordon69@gmail.com
Paul Davison on paul_davison85@hotmail.com
In addition, AFAP staff member Chris Aikens can be contacted on chris@afap.org.au. The AFAP also has their Member Assistance Program (MAP) which can be accessed via Freecall 1300 307 912