HIGH RES IMAGE: Chris Aikens at Perth Airport's domestic terminal on 15 Feb 2024.
The Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) has provided Qantas with notice of a further day of industrial action to be taken by its Network Aviation members on Thursday 22 February, starting at a minute past midnight.
“At a hugely well-attended members meeting on Friday, the clear sentiment was that Network pilots still feel as though they are treated as second-class citizens within the Qantas group,” said Chris Aikens, a senior industrial officer at the AFAP.
“Ongoing and rolling protected industrial action will continue unless this changes,” he said.
AFAP members, who make up more than 90 per cent of the pilot group flying for QantasLink and Network Aviation and are based in Western Australia, are keen to meet with the new QantasLink CEO Rachel Yangoyan while she is in Perth.
An approach has been made to invite her to a meeting with the pilots, ideally on Monday 19 February.
“These pilots are keen to meet the new QantasLink CEO to explain the depth of discontent widely felt amongst the pilot group,” said Mr Aikens.
“The members were agreed that, if the company was willing to come to the meeting with a potential resolution to the ongoing dispute, then serious consideration will be given to cancelling this, and any future, stop work action.”
“We sincerely hope that this meeting between the new QantasLink CEO and the pilots on Monday does go ahead,” said Mr Aikens.
“The pilots are keen to express their genuine frustration to her in person while she is in Perth and hope she can bring something new to the table that shows the value she places on these pilots.”