Summary
- Qantas-owned Network Aviation faces a dramatic escalation in pilot strikes, causing disruptions to flights from February 14 to February 19.
- The Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) represents nearly all of pilots who’re demanding equal treatment and improved terms and conditions, not only the minimum pay standard.
- Qantas argues that Network Aviation pilots have fewer flying hours and shouldn’t be paid the identical as other Qantas Group pilots. The airline plans to make use of alternative aircraft to attenuate disruptions, but many passengers and resource businesses will still be affected.
The dispute between Qantas fully-owned subsidiary Network Aviation and nearly all of its pilots took a dramatic turn for the more severe on Wednesday when the pilots association added an additional three days of strike motion. After starting as a one-day stoppage, the rolling strike implies that from Wednesday, February 14, to Monday, February 19, there can be no Network Aviation flights.
A fast option to more disruption
A number of days ago I wrote in regards to the futility of the strike, and this latest motion, which doubles down on what was advised on Monday, has taken the dispute into dangerous waters, with each side seemingly set on the Fair Work Commission (government industrial tribunal) stepping in with its own decision, which is able to greater than likely be to no ones liking.
Photo: Qantas
Aikens said that AFAP is keen and willing to fulfill with the corporate’s management to reach at some improvements in terms and conditions for the bottom paid jet pilots within the Qantas Group. Easy Flying reached out to AFAP on Tuesday, and the association replied and agreed to offer us an update in the approaching days.
What’s Qantas doing?
Network Aviation chief operating officer Trevor Worgan said it was regrettable that the Australian Federation of Air Pilots continued to notify the airline of more industrial motion. He added:
“The strike motion over the following few days is clearly aimed directly on the Western Australian economy by targeting flying to and from mine sites across the state. The strikes planned over the weekend will mainly impact western Australians travelling to regional towns across WA, including places like Geraldton, Broome and Kalgoorlie.”
Bringing its perspective to the table, Qantas said in a press release that the Network Aviation (Network) pilots flew significantly fewer hours than other pilots within the Qantas Group, and it was unreasonable to expect to be paid the identical as those pilots. Greater than 50 flights on Wednesday and Thursday have been canceled, and more can be cut from Friday to Monday if the strike continues.