RFDS pilots commence industrial action
 

RFDS central ops pilots will commence protected industrial action as of 0500 local today (31/10).

The reason for the action is due to management failing to make progress with the EBA negotiations. The current EBA expired on 30 June 2004.

The action will not affect patient services in any way. The action will include pilots refusing to wear uniforms and refusing to carry out a minor accounting administrative task.

RFDS management has retaliated by advising pilots involved in the action will not receive any pay.

A launch of the industrial action will take place at the RFDS Adelaide hangar at 0900.

Anyone in support of RFDS pilots and this action is welcome to attend.

There is your opportunity Icontinetia B.

An RFDS command in only four years.... Go for it big fella!!

Not getting paid for not wearing a uniform seems a bit stiff.
It's not as if it affects the operation in any way. Not sure about the paperwork issue so someone else would have to comment there.
:} :ok:

How 'bout half the uniform..if they're only giving you part of your pay?!:}

It depends which half, don't it? :E :}

Seriously though, I can't see how refusing to wear uniform would have that much of an effect on the actual day-to-day ops... besides not looking as 'cool' to the punters... then again I doubt they'd care when they see you finally fly in to some remote strip at 3am to pick up their sick/injured family member or friend...

you guys do good work, I hope they give you a fair go....! :ok:

RFDS pilots should be paid more than airline pilots.

Thanks all for your support.

What we are seeking is not a great leap in pay. Its to do with shift penalties, overtime and some other issues surrounding overnights and temporary transfers. The shift penalty issue is a simple rolled in rate calculator which is reflective of what differences exist in the rosters at different bases. The overtime issue has safety implications as at the moment management don't really give a toss if we work 14 and even up to 16 hour shifts. If they had to pay for it then we believe they would have a genuine interest in controlling it more effectively and reduce the exposure to fatigue. Bear in mind that fatigue was not discounted in the crash of FMN at Mount Gambier and the death of a pilot and serious injury to one of our flight nurses

The industrial action does not affect service delivery at all. The minor administrative task is to do with billing details and can actually be recovered from another area of the paper trail. Its just a bit less inconvenient for management.

There will be numerous media articles circulating in the press, television and radio over the next day or so.

At this stage management have not yet said that they will be paying us.

Like many others that read and contribute to this forum we are dead against flying for nothing, however; it appears the workplace relations act has us shafted at the moment. One can only imagine what Little Johnnies IR reform has in store.

If you feel strong enough about our issue please ring or write to the RFDS central ops management with your feelings on the treatment we are receiving.

Any issues that could compromise safety due to fatigue can be sorted out with CASA directly.

The Authority is becoming very pro-active in this area and will monitor Companies that abuse flight time limitations and rest periods.

First of all, GOOD ON YOU ALL FOR STICKING TOGETHER!!
Secondly, 'protected Industrial Action' is just that-"PROTECTED." Management can gripe and whinge all they want, but they CANNOT WITHOLD YOUR PAY!!
They have the option of "locking you out", however, it then becomes their responsibility, when you are unable complete a tasking that you are quite willing to carry out.
I cant imagine the management wanting to take the blame for not being able to pick up a patient, as a result of locking out the pilots.
To withold your pay would be illegal, aside from being highly inflammatory.
Even if they should decide to "lock you out", they must still congtinue to pay you.
Provided you stay within the guidelines of 'Protected Industrial Action', you have nothing to fear from the management.

Hans

From my experience with the CAO 48 exemption that i assume the Central section work to, extention of duty periods to 14 and 16 hours is at the discretion of the pilot with respect to mental and physical well being and only if operationally necessary to complete the objective of the duty.

Are the extentions you talk about MEDWUN, absolutly necessary? Most aren't.

My suggestion would be to stop working over your 12 hours until an agreement is reached.

Is this a reasonable action in your operation?

Best of luck with it all medwun and all the other RFDS pilots on here. As Hans said it is very admirable you are all sticking together- how it should be in the flying community.

You will find that the Pearl Aviation Pilots have also started protected action, due to many of the same reasons listed by medwun.

Seems ironic to me that the two organisations that provide the aero medical services in the Territory have to resort (for want of a better word) to protected action in order to get their respective managements to negotiate.

Good luck and I hope you all stick together and get the result that you deserve.

I can only offer advice that will confirm your course of action.

You must at all costs stick together, and if not already doing so, appoint a single person or person(s) comittee to speak with one and only one voice, in this course of action you **must** have consensus, otherwise management will pick you off one by one.

g'luck and you guys must already know that you all do one hell of a job.

ps: have you guys got any legal advice ? I'd lean in that direction if I were you, not critical at this stage, but if things get messy in the devil of the detail, you would do well to get a pro to sniff things out for you.

best of luck

I don't always agree with what you say Bushy, but this time I certainly do!!:ok:

How much do the RFDS pilots make? How much are they seeking?

Way less than a QF SO or VB FO, and seeking less than QF domestic FO or VB domestic range of salary, minimum experience levels required way above QF and VB.

IMHO they are worth a lot more, I guess you would too if they saved your a$$ in the middle of no where, a lot of them are paid less than a metropolitan ambulance officer.

If the RFDS was funded by road distance traveled like a road ambulance, they would be in a position to have more funds available.

These people get none of the extra benefits like staff travel or discount holidays and accommodation available to those flying heavier equipment in Australia, just because the work for a non for profit organization. The community as a whole needs to help these people along, they get less than half of what a nurse or one quarter of what a doctor receives in the same organization.

Good luck all sections, IMHO your worth every penny and more.

:ok:

Was offered an RFDS job about 5/6 years ago based in the NW of WA. Stated pay at the time was high 40's gusting low 50's. In one of the more difficult decisions I've made, I knocked it back for a higher paying job.

Agree with Bushy (first time for everything, I guess!) - RFDS pilots are worth at least as much as the airline jocks (no dis-respect intended to the airline drivers though).

Keep with it guys,

you are not alone in you quest for better pay and conditions.
Keep your ear to the ground, a couple of other well known pilot groups have or are taking industrial action.

JarJar

Any contact number/address - snail, and/or email - would be greatly appreciated to help us let them know, please.

Thanks in advance :O

Thanks HI'er

Check your PM's. Didn't want to put addresses and names on public thread, Woomera don't like it!

Thanks