Interesting thread. Makes me glad that I ditched a flying career a long time ago. Always wondered if I made the right choice.
Anyway, nothing will ever change if you sit back and wait for the union to do something for you. The people at AFAP are not the union, the members are and you need to be procactive and get AFAP working for you. Encourage your workmates to join the union, only then when you have strength in numbers can you make a change, as did the teachers (NSW), civil ATC, the list goes on.
Contact your union reps and get the ball rolling on a wages campaign. If you sit back, nothing will ever change. It will take a long time but its the only way you will get any changes.
Good luck.