QANTAS has reached an in-principle agreement with unions on a new wages deal for its long haul pilots.
The agreement with the Australian International Pilots' Association allows for a 3 per cent yearly wage rise until 2013, and follows 18 months of negotiations.
"This is a significant agreement that locks in the company's 3 per cent per annum wages policy for a further five years,'' Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said.
As well, all Qantas pilots will now have part of their remuneration linked to the company's performance.
"Under this new agreement, the difference between the three per cent per annum wage increase and CPI (consumer price index), along with a proportion of overtime payments, will be paid out in a similar way to executive bonuses,'' Mr Dixon said.
The agreement re-writes decades of accumulated employment conditions and rules into one simplified document.
"It finalises the pay arrangements for the launch of the (Airbus) A380 aircraft later this year, with multiple pay rates rationalised and new rules on career progression that will reduce the cost of training associated with pilots moving between aircraft types,'' Mr Dixon said.
The agreement comes into effect when it is voted on by the Qantas pilots.
Sounds like 3% plus lots of sweetners, but is that for ALL pilots?
Oh, we had a simplified document too .. turned out to be an attempt to sabotage our membership. Read that agreement very carefully. If the numbers add up, well good for you.
We asked for nothing more than a FAIR wage outcome.