And this from the WestAustralian
30 more pilots underpaid
19th June 2007, 17:15 WST
The Office of Workplace Services (OWS) has accused a transport company of underpaying 33 pilots, sounding a warning to employers breaching workplace relations laws.
In May, OWS alleged National Jet Systems had underpaid three pilots by $5,377 and forced two pilots to sign AWAs.
Legal action has widened after OWS added the claims of another 30 pilots for a claim of $65,130 in underpayments by the 33 pilots in the Federal Magistrates Court last Friday.
The application seeks the full recovery of underpayments resulting from the employer's failure to pay the additional 30 pilots a CPI salary increase to which, it is alleged, they were entitled under their existing AWAs.
OWS director Nicholas Wilson said the decision to take legal action comes after extensive investigations and numerous opportunities by National Jet Systems to rectify the alleged underpayments and a lack of co-operation from the company.
"OWS will not hesitate to prosecute an employer who refuses to co-operate and/or rectify breaches of workplace relations law," Mr Wilson said.
"Employers risk potentially significant penalties - up to $33,000 per breach of the Workplace Relations Act 1996."
National Jet Systems employs more than 800 people and provides contracted charter, freight and passenger operations to large civil and government organisations.
AAP