The AFAP Negotiating Team met with Jetstar representatives over one and a half days this week to continue bargaining discussions for a new EA.
Attending on behalf of the AFAP were JPF pilot representatives Chris Gibson, Dom Corcoran, Ben Bollen, Paul Hogan and Jake Gainger, along with AFAP Senior Industrial/Legal staff Deanna Cain and Andrew Molnar.
Attending for Jetstar were Tyrone Simes (Chief Pilot & Head of Flying Operations), Michael Porch (Senior Manager Flying Operations), Leah Everton (Senior Manager Operational Insights & Strategy), Tim Faulkner (Employee Relations Manager - Flying Operations) and Vera Gorgievski (National Operations Advisor).
Jetstar Log of Claims
Jetstar presented the AFAP with an outline of the key claims it intends to pursue during bargaining. From the outset, Jetstar emphasised that it had adopted a deliberately “moderate” approach, aiming to avoid proposals that could be perceived as unreasonable. However, it also noted the need to identify operational efficiencies as a means of creating capacity to fund pilot/AFAP claims.
No costing data was provided by the Company at this stage, though it is expected to be made available at the next meeting.
While the AFAP team asked questions and provided preliminary feedback, we were not in a position to formally respond without knowing the value Jetstar attributes to each proposal.
ODTA on Short Haul International (SHI) Flights
Jetstar is seeking to remove ODTA payments on SHI flights for narrow-body pilots where meals are provided, describing this as a correction to an oversight in the 2015 EA.
The AFAP highlighted the regulatory obligations under CAO 48.1 and Jetstar’s own OM9A, which require access to adequate sustenance for duties exceeding five hours. Therefore, to comply with this requirement Jetstar supply meals on Short Haul International flights where the flight time exceeds 5 hours.
Jetstar is proposing limiting ODTA to the time spent on layover, excluding ODTA from the flight duty period.
Part Time Arrangements
Jetstar is seeking significant reform of the current part time arrangements available to Jetstar pilots. Conceptually this would involve replacing the current Voluntary Flexi Line (VFL) and Job Share appendix with more traditional part-time arrangements (i.e. PT 50/PT 75), prioritising those seeking part-time work for reasons beyond lifestyle choices, such as carers or pilots aged 55 and over. That said, Jetstar recognises that part-time access remains an important lifestyle consideration for some pilots, which it aims to balance accordingly.
Practically, this change would mean part-time pilots could be rostered for standby duties and would receive pro-rata entitlements aligned with their part-time status.
Jetstar expressed interest in introducing a Transition to Retirement (TTR) model and indicated a willingness to expand part-time availability beyond the current 10% floor, depending on the agreed framework.
Jetstar is also seeking to review Carers arrangements based on feedback received since implementation, however there were no specific details provided or discussed around carers at the meeting.
Standby
Jetstar is seeking to amend the existing standby (STB) matrix (Clause 46.9 of the EA) to allow for 4 standby days when pilots are rostered below 75 credit hours. Currently, pilots are limited to 3 standby days when rostered under 75 hours, 4 standby days between 75 and 90 hours, and 2 standby days when rostered above 90 hours.
Jetstar explained that due to the nature of the flying changing in some bases /cohorts (i.e. more SHI flying and inefficient multi day tours of duty) it can be challenging to roster pilots above 75 hours. Therefore, Jetstar seeks the ability to roster 4 standby days even when pilots are below the 75-hour threshold as a means of improving operational resilience.
Displacement and Re-assignable provisions
Jetstar is seeking greater flexibility and better utilisation of pilots who have been displaced from a rostered tour of duty:
- Multi Day Trips - Currently pilots are limited to sign off time + 1 hour on the last day of a multi-day trip, along with very restrictive contactability requirements. Jetstar is seeking to change the last day of a multi-day reassignment to a standby.
- Single Day Trips – Currently pilots are limited to a duty with a +/- 1 hour buffer (with 12 hours notice) or zero buffer with less than 12 hours notice. Jetstar is seeking to increase the increase the re-assignable span to -2 hours and +2 hours.
Trainee Wage for New Hire Pilots
Jetstar is currently exploring the feasibility of commencing internal A320 type ratings, which would result in new hire pilots being employed from the commencement of their type rating training, rather than their inductions as is currently the case.
As part of this change, Jetstar has proposed introducing a trainee wage for new First Officers and Second Officers, which would apply until the pilot is checked to line. This proposed wage would be below the current minimums payable to narrow-body First Officers and wide-body Second Officers under the Award.
We note the ability to pay First Officers under training less than the Award is currently the subject of Appeal by the AFAP, following the recent Fair Work Commission decision regarding the approval of the Qantas Short Haul Agreement. As such, we have recommended that any discussion on trainee salaries be parked, pending the outcome of that Appeal process.
In conjunction with the proposed trainee wage, Jetstar also indicated a desire to create a dedicated EA appendix for pilots under training (new hire, conversion, or upgrade). This appendix would contain rostering concessions specific to pilots under training. However, the specific details regarding roster relief and associated arrangements are still being developed by Jetstar.
Ability to demote for performance / standards reasons
Jetstar is seeking to include a transparent and structured process for demotion in the EA, to manage the exceptionally rare cases where a pilot is consistently not meeting the required performance standards.
Jetstar described this proposal as a protective measure, intended to establish a clear and consistent pathway that recognises demotion as a formal alternative to termination. The aim is to provide greater procedural clarity while ensuring that a pilot maintaining employment in a lower rank is enshrined as an available option in such circumstances.
Training out of base days off
Jetstar is proposing that training out of base days off be counted toward a pilot’s annual entitlement of 132 DDOs. Additionally, Jetstar is seeking to cap at five days the requirement to provide 50% of days free of duty back at the pilot’s home base following an extended training period away from home base.
Jetstar noted that these changes would deliver substantial productivity and operational efficiencies, primarily by reducing the volume of ‘days in lieu’ owed from training pathways.
Revised command suitability selection process
Jetstar is seeking to introduce a pre allocation command interview and approval process prior to the awarding of a command position.
This process is intended to assess command suitability in advance of vacancies being advertised to provide any necessary feedback and better prepare pilots for future promotional opportunities.
Reform consultative committees
Jetstar has proposed a review of the Pilot Consultative Committee (PCC), with a view to potentially replacing it with a more structured union forum. The intention behind this change is to enable a more streamlined approach to better understand and address pilot feedback, as well as address the inefficiencies that arise from having to run dual consultative processes under the current EA framework.
Drafting clarifications and other miscellaneous matters
Jetstar has also outlined a range of minor drafting amendments and clarifications it would like to address in the new EA. These include:
- Accommodation – Removing the requirement for PCC approval where travel time to crew accommodation exceeds 30 minutes.
- Re-assignable Provisions (Roster Protocol, Clause 15) – Redrafting this section to improve clarity and readability for pilots, without altering the original intent.
- Incidents and Investigations – Clarifying that 48 hours' notice for a meeting is not required where the pilot is not expected to respond to allegations, and that informal performance or disciplinary discussions do not fall within the scope of Clause 16.4.
- Visa Costs – Clarifying that Jetstar is only responsible for the direct costs of obtaining a visa, and not for any ancillary costs (e.g. photographs).
- Overpayments – Confirming that the recovery of overpayments will occur from post-tax (net) income.
- Personal Leave – Introducing a requirement for a medical certificate to support any Unfit for Duty (UFD) claim associated with a training duty (trainee).
- Sick Leave Pool – Providing clarification on what constitutes four weeks’ leave to access the pool, as well as the documentation requirements for doing so.
Jetstar has also indicated that it will be pursuing a range of additional changes to the Agreement aimed at improving clarity, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements, and addressing potential issues—although these have not yet been formally outlined to the AFAP.
Jetstar Response to AFAP Claims
At the meeting Jetstar provided a preliminary response to several of the AFAP’s key claims. However, many of these remain subject to further analysis, costing, and modelling, with Jetstar allocating dedicated resources to undertake this work between bargaining meetings.
Upcoming Meeting
The next bargaining sessions with Jetstar are scheduled for the week commencing 9th June. We anticipate that Jetstar will provide detailed costings for each of its claims during this meeting, along with a more considered response to the key claims put forward by the AFAP.
We will continue to keep you informed of developments.
If you have any questions, your pilot representatives are available to assist. Alternatively, you can contact your AFAP industrial officers Deanna Cain, Pat Larkins or Andrew Molnar via email; patrick@afap.org.au, or andrew@afap.org.au or call (03) 9928 5737.
Regards,
AFAP Jetstar Negotiating Team
Ben Bollen, Chris Gibson, Daniel Blakemore, Dominic Corcoran, Jake Gainger and Paul Hogan