Federation involvement at Jetstar and one pilot union
Due to some misinformation published on this site the Federation wants to state clearly and unambiguously our position at Jetstar, also our position as to one union for all pilots in Australia.
First, the Federation has had and continues to have about a third of the pilots employed at Jetstar as members. Our involvement goes back to the days of Impulse and Oxley Airlines. We successfully put an end to the sham employment arrangements that were in place at that time. We did this through many hearings in the AIRC and courts. Ultimately the shareholder process was removed.
Shortly after this the 717 arrived and during one of our visits Capt Chris Manning (AIPA Pres) arrived and also addressed the pilots. He advised that whilst they would assist there was no coverage by AIPA and the Federation did have coverage. Unfortunately that acknowledgement was rescinded when McGowan sold out and Impulse became part of the QF group. This has effectively restricted union organisation to this day. It is ‘spilt milk’ but if AIPA had stuck to its own area then we would have had better organisation in Impulse and now Jetstar.
In recent years we have had involvement on behalf of our members at Jetstar through individual matters and occasionally more general matters.
We acknowledge that the in-house committee (IPC/JPC/JPA) have over the years attempted to do the right thing for their fellow pilots. Occasionally we have disagreed on the best direction.
In the end it has always been the Jetstar pilots who determine their future. We have always respected this. It is why we became a party bound to the current agreement certified (PR963622) under the Workplace Relations Act on 6th October 2005.
In our battles with the Company they have constantly used the Committee as their defence for not resolving matters or making decisions that affect our members. The current simulator case is an example.
We met with the Company last week after many of our members followed advice and forwarded the representation letter to the Company. The meeting lasted 1.5 hours and they advised in writing the next day that no delay was acceptable to the Company on the deal proposed. Accordingly we have advised members of the deficiencies we have identified and would like to see fixed in the proposal. It is fair to say that the money has moved significantly although not enough for some. However, it’s the conditions to be applied over the next five years that will impact. That is why we have advocated a no vote.
It is still not for the Federation or anyone else for that matter to make the determination on the Jetstar pilots that is for the Jetstar pilots alone.
The proposed agreement being voted down will lead to further talks and no change to the existing agreement which does not expire till September this year. We will be actively involved in any further talks because the Company has acknowledged the pilot requests for Federation representation. However if the vote gets up then the agreement is in place for five years.
We have offered to sit with AIPA reps at the same table to sort this out to get the best deal for Jetstar pilots but the response has been deafening in its silence.
Pilot Unions in Australia
The Federation position is clear - we want to see one pilot body in Australia but it takes all parties to be involved.
The outcome of the court case only provides an extension to AIPA rules in respect to Jetstar, Eastern/Sunstate and Qantas Freight.
IT DOES NOT PROVIDE EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE FOR AIPA.
This means that the issues of competition continue.
The Federation wants too see a positive situation but that will only come from one body that provides equity between the pilot flying in General Aviation and the pilot flying an A380, or the 737/A320 and the Helicopter pilot, or the 777 and the Flight instructor.
The one thing that stops us today is the individuals that refuse to allow such rights to professional pilots no matter what part of the industry you come from.
The Federation has offered a proposal covering all pilots to AIPA on several occasions. This has been knocked back each time. If pilots want this then they should get the leadership of all groups to recognise the requirement to respect a professional pilot (irrespective of the Company they work for or the type of flying they do).
As Australian professional pilots let’s park the egos and get it moving. There can be many opportunities at this time of shortage to establish benchmarks for our collective futures.
We see and hear a lot about unity.
Question is do you want to be part of it or not?
Lawrie Cox
Manager Industrial Relations
Australian Federation of Air Pilots