Ag Pilots ripped off

[pedro robiro]

The new award says,Pilots only get holiday pay based on the retainer only unless you negotiate.The award is Pathetic anyway and they only can make a living when they get bonuses.If you have to be off in accident comp you only get the retainer.They work 7days a week no extra for weekends now this entitlment is gone.:rolleyes:

[Jabawocky]

.........but they have so much fun!:ok:

[the wizard of auz]

Believe me Jaba, the novelty wears off pretty quick. its just a job like any other.

[802flyer]

Here is the section regarding leave entitlements from the new (2010) pilots award (application pilots)

C.5
Annual leave
C.5.1
No leave loading is required to be paid for aerial application operations.
C.5.2
A pilot will be paid in full at the BASE RATE of pay for the period of leave to be taken prior to commencing such leave unless mutually agreed between the pilot and the employer.

Well the operators have finally done it guys! This is now law. They have now " cleared up the grey area" that has always been a point of argument in that part of the old award and have succeeded in getting out of paying many thousands of dollars in holliday pay by not having to average the retainer PLUS bonus over fifty two weeks...yes thats right,you will only get weekly retainer from Jan 2010 for your holiday pay. How did we let this happen???:ugh::mad:

[Chimbu chuckles]

How did we let this happen?

I believe people didn't much like Work Choices and voted LJH out and the socialist Union Leadership in. I seem to remember they don't like pilots much - probably because we don't generally vote Labor:mad:

[802flyer]

I totally agree with your comments about the " socialist union leadership " but in this case believe it had more to do with submissions from a certain Australian representative body that some how cleverly managed to get the wording from the 1999 award changed from "full salary" to "base rate" in the new (2010) award without anyone noticing.
So when you guys are out flying under wires and putting up with obnoxious farmers (and operators), working weekends and public holidays, think about what you are now NOT getting for your efforts!!. :ugh: :mad::mad:
Read submissions and new award here: Award Modernisation - Airline operations (http://www.airc.gov.au/awardmod/fullbench/industries/awardmodindustry.cfm?award=airline)

[Chimbu chuckles]

In a general sense though how do people justify being paid more (leave loading) on holidays than they are paid when actually working?

Or is it more complicated than that in ag ops?

[plucka]

Hey Chimbu,

usually I would agree with you. The difference with Ag. is that the base rate/salary/retainer, call it what you like, only makes up about 40% (depending what you are flying) of your gross wage in a 'normal' year. The other 60% is made up of a commision of what the plane makes, obviously the more flying you do the more money you earn.

For example we get paid about 32k (round figures, few variables to this) as a salary for the year, but if you fly 500hrs for that year it is quite possible to earn 100k for the year with the commissions included. Under the new award when we take our holidays for that year we will only get holiday pay of the 32k figure not the 100k figure, this is the problem.

However after 10 years in the industry I have never been paid a commission average while on holidays. It used to be a grey area that more often than not worked in the employers favour. Now it is cemented in their favour.

Hope that explains it.

[Chimbu chuckles]

That is what I figured the case would be - so you need to change the way you're paid. In such a small and highly specialised industry that should be relatively easy.

[the wizard of auz]

Same problem exists in this part of the industry as the rest of it. Plenty of Grade 2s out there want the hours for grade 1 and will do it on the toes of others making a stand.

[OZ-G10]

Where was the AAAA pilot rep when the new 2010 Pilots Award was being negotiated or was he accidently left out of the game?
Better start putting that $110.00 p/a subscription towards your holiday pay instead of the operators piss up on the Gold Coast each year at least you'll get something for it.
Maybe this is the way our industry leaders believe young guys will be inspired to become AG Pilots by getting the experienced ones to say go and get :mad:.

[maxspeed]

The $110 for AAAA, money well spent for our industry, but not well spent as far as boosting pilot awards. I suggest that all AG pilots should be members of A.F.A.P, I am and the there are alot of benefit's, the more that join the more our voice will be heard. Sign-up here......... today!... do-it! Australian Federation of Air Pilots (http://www.afap.org.au/html/s01_home/home.asp)