An important MSG to my fellow JETCONNECT pilots.
Join Date: Jan 2018
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The issue is the union has received legal advice that our challenge on rest an meal breaks would have very limited success because Tasman flying has longer cruise periods then the domestic jetstar guys. So being expert negotiators they traded what was already a very questionable trump card for some real genuine benefits which the company will never be able to bargain back. It was our chance to lock it in. My concern now is,the company will fight back and revoke that offer tell us to litigate the meal issue and we are 80% likely to lose. It is for this reason the council said yes. Now we are going to be weaker as one by one the people are going to take IEA's the company is offering to lock in the days off and the bonus payments I already know of 5 (4CPT & 1 FO)looking to do it.
Good job on the NO vote.
Why worry about one clause? Can always vote NO again. If some Pilots are opting to take IEA's, well it shows a lot about their character doesn't it.
This has always been JetConnects problem, or certainly was back in my days there... too many voting yes out of fear, or in the case of some Wellington Pilots, to protect their part-time job!! (Seriously, are those guys still flying ~300 hours a year? )
Why worry about one clause? Can always vote NO again. If some Pilots are opting to take IEA's, well it shows a lot about their character doesn't it.
This has always been JetConnects problem, or certainly was back in my days there... too many voting yes out of fear, or in the case of some Wellington Pilots, to protect their part-time job!! (Seriously, are those guys still flying ~300 hours a year? )
Join Date: Aug 2007
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The issue is the union has received legal advice that our challenge on rest an meal breaks would have very limited success because Tasman flying has longer cruise periods then the domestic jetstar guys. So being expert negotiators they traded what was already a very questionable trump card for some real genuine benefits...
...an extra 0.5% in your Kiwi saver? Well that is approximately $90k across the pilot group assuming everyone took 8% out of their already ridiculously poor pay packet to actually get the extra 0.5%... remember they’ll match your contribution up to 4.5% so 4% ain’t gonna cut it buddy... why don’t you just take your $2k or $3.5k a year and save that... you’ll be better off.
Oh and then there is spending some of the other 300 and something THOUSAND DOLLARS on buffing up the entry FO pay... but wait a minute... Why am I spending my meal allowance to improve a pay scale that shouldn’t even be in the contract to begin with?
Should I go on?
Let’s just all be thankful that the pilot group wasn’t swimming in the coolaide fountain and get on with negotiating an acceptable contract instead of an insult.
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No one held at gunpoint!
I don't have a dog in the fight but I think 'exploitation' is a bit of a stretch.
It's hardly a job in a gulag or salt mine at gunpoint!
Are the remuneration and associated conditions below par? Absolutely, no question. But when suitable staff can be found for the conditions on offer in a free, democratised country then that is a definition of a market rate.
The real question is what to do about it. There are really only two possible options. Reduce the supply of suitable pilots willing to do the job for the conditions on offer (i.e. quit/don't apply) or organise cohesively and negotiate a fairer deal.
There will always be limited good jobs in this part of the world and strong pilot industrial cohesion is usually elusive.
I genuinely wish you guys a fair outcome.
PG
It's hardly a job in a gulag or salt mine at gunpoint!
Are the remuneration and associated conditions below par? Absolutely, no question. But when suitable staff can be found for the conditions on offer in a free, democratised country then that is a definition of a market rate.
The real question is what to do about it. There are really only two possible options. Reduce the supply of suitable pilots willing to do the job for the conditions on offer (i.e. quit/don't apply) or organise cohesively and negotiate a fairer deal.
There will always be limited good jobs in this part of the world and strong pilot industrial cohesion is usually elusive.
I genuinely wish you guys a fair outcome.
PG
Jetconnect Captain AVERAGE wage over first 3yrs (2x2.5% increases over CEA)
Ratification.....Oct2018..........Oct 2019
NZ$178,248.33 NZ$182,704.33 NZ$188,860.66
NZ$186,269.50 NZ$190,923.02 NZ$197,359.40 (Total Package)
Ratification.....Oct2018..........Oct 2019
NZ$178,248.33 NZ$182,704.33 NZ$188,860.66
NZ$186,269.50 NZ$190,923.02 NZ$197,359.40 (Total Package)
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Yet don’t be getting too excited because the incentive flight hour payments are based on the base salary minus the retention figure and are fixed for the term of the agreement meaning over time inflation will degrade the hourly rate for incentive...
What’s more because the retention bonus has been rolled into the base the higher duty allowances such as the flight examiner duty allowance has been reduced from 16% to 15.6% to account for the increase in base salary... better not pay those pesky flight examiners too much lest they get too big for their boots.
Did someone mention cost neutral?
The retention payment has been rolled into the base salary primarily I believe because where an employee took leave immediately after their retention payment was made their base salary was hyper inflated for their annual leave period. Something to do with how payroll works.
Yet don’t be getting too excited because the incentive flight hour payments are based on the base salary minus the retention figure and are fixed for the term of the agreement meaning over time inflation will degrade the hourly rate for incentive...
What’s more because the retention bonus has been rolled into the base the higher duty allowances such as the flight examiner duty allowance has been reduced from 16% to 15.6% to account for the increase in base salary... better not pay those pesky flight examiners too much lest they get too big for their boots.
Did someone mention cost neutral?
Yet don’t be getting too excited because the incentive flight hour payments are based on the base salary minus the retention figure and are fixed for the term of the agreement meaning over time inflation will degrade the hourly rate for incentive...
What’s more because the retention bonus has been rolled into the base the higher duty allowances such as the flight examiner duty allowance has been reduced from 16% to 15.6% to account for the increase in base salary... better not pay those pesky flight examiners too much lest they get too big for their boots.
Did someone mention cost neutral?
Forget about all the Pilots who left a few months shy of their retention, costing themselves (but saving the company) thousands of dollars.... no, let’s go after the few who manage to get leave right after their anniversary :
No wonder JC is haemorrhaging Pilots to other carriers.
Join Date: Jun 2002
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Under AU$180,000 you remain on 37c per dollar tax bracket in Australia.
AU$160,238 pays roughly $46,919 in tax, as calculated by the ATO tax calculator.
The same wage converted to NZ$ and taxed on the highest bracket of 33c.
NZ$175,459 pays roughly NZ$48,821 (AU$44,585), as calculated by the IRD tax calculator.
The fact in NZ you can't make any work related deductions to lower your taxable income. Along with the fact, the cost of living in New Zealand compared to Australiais quite high, means the comparisons of wages between countries should be quite relevant..
AU$160,238 pays roughly $46,919 in tax, as calculated by the ATO tax calculator.
The same wage converted to NZ$ and taxed on the highest bracket of 33c.
NZ$175,459 pays roughly NZ$48,821 (AU$44,585), as calculated by the IRD tax calculator.
The fact in NZ you can't make any work related deductions to lower your taxable income. Along with the fact, the cost of living in New Zealand compared to Australiais quite high, means the comparisons of wages between countries should be quite relevant..
I thought every captain at JC would be earning well more than 200k a year.
The actual take home pay would be better than is suggested.
Be more than a Network or Cobham captain over here.
What pilots get paid in Aussie has SFA to do with what the pilots at Jetconnect get paid.
How their pay and conditions compare to pilots doing similar jobs (Virgin, Air NZ Jetstar etc), in New Zealand is what matters.
You need to be comparing apple with apples. They are New Zealand pilots employed in New Zealand on a New Zealand contract.
I think Aussie pilots need to realise that by and large they get paid better than in most other parts of the world. Good on you for being able to achieve that, but just because you get paid well it doesn't translate that your conditions will automatically flow into other jurisdictions.
One of Ansett New Zealand's downfalls was the generous salary packages they brought with them to New Zealand from Australia.
How their pay and conditions compare to pilots doing similar jobs (Virgin, Air NZ Jetstar etc), in New Zealand is what matters.
You need to be comparing apple with apples. They are New Zealand pilots employed in New Zealand on a New Zealand contract.
I think Aussie pilots need to realise that by and large they get paid better than in most other parts of the world. Good on you for being able to achieve that, but just because you get paid well it doesn't translate that your conditions will automatically flow into other jurisdictions.
One of Ansett New Zealand's downfalls was the generous salary packages they brought with them to New Zealand from Australia.
That’s utter crap 27/09.
How many hours do you fly is what should be asked. Productivity? Hours at work? Duty? Qf short haul is probably double the duty or more for equivalent flight time than Jetconnect. Flying at the moment is woefully inefficient. 4 sector days 6 hours pay 12 hours duty for example is not uncommon. Total Package for some very hard working Captains on the 737 is north of $400k. For that 1000 (Flight) hours/yr and duty in the order of at least on average 180hrs/28 days. In other words 18-20 days at work per 28 day roster. Most will earn around 280-300k/yr. Of course at least 35% goes to the government unless you can write it off!
How many hours do you fly is what should be asked. Productivity? Hours at work? Duty? Qf short haul is probably double the duty or more for equivalent flight time than Jetconnect. Flying at the moment is woefully inefficient. 4 sector days 6 hours pay 12 hours duty for example is not uncommon. Total Package for some very hard working Captains on the 737 is north of $400k. For that 1000 (Flight) hours/yr and duty in the order of at least on average 180hrs/28 days. In other words 18-20 days at work per 28 day roster. Most will earn around 280-300k/yr. Of course at least 35% goes to the government unless you can write it off!