(Ex-tropical cyclone Lincoln is expected to hit the west Pilbara and Gascoyne coasts on Saturday.)
Updated 4 Mar 2024: The Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) has advised Qantas of a further 24-hour stoppage for Friday 8 March. More than 230 (95 per cent of the total) pilots employed to fly for Network Aviation (charter flights) and QantasLink (passenger transport) are members of the AFAP and so are eligible to take this protected industrial action as approved by the Fair Work Commission.
28 Feb 2024: The AFAP has advised Qantas of a further 24-hour stoppage to be taken on Monday 4 March.
Fri 24 Feb 2024: Further to the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) suspending a four-day period of protected industrial action at the request of the WA State Government, any threat posed by ex-tropical cyclone Lincoln should pass by early next week.
“Our Network pilot representatives decided to suspend the stop work action planned for this weekend as it was the professional and right thing to do to remove people from potential harm,” said AFAP senior industrial officer Chris Aikens.
Consequently, the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) has advised Network Aviation in Perth of consecutive 24-hour stoppages of all work will take place on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 February [and also Friday 1 March].
More than 230 (94 per cent of the total) pilots employed by fully-owned Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation are members of the AFAP and are eligible to take this protected industrial action approved by the Fair Work Commission.
"We understand that the airline has brought in Qantas B737 aircraft from the Eastern states and charter aircraft from other airlines,” said AFAP senior industrial officer Chris Aikens.
“Qantas management would prefer to spend up to $8 million a day trying to ride this storm rather that investing in its pilot workforce in Western Australia."
“What the pilots are asking for is just a drop in the ocean for the company given the half-year profit of $1.25 billion posted by Qantas on Thursday [23 February].”
“Despite the need to take further action, we remain open to meeting with the company in the hope that it can offer something that will be acceptable to this pilot group.”
Further comments from AFAP senior industrial officer Chris Aikens:
“At the recent AFAP members meeting held last Friday [16 February] in Perth - and attended by more than half the 250-strong pilot workforce employed by Network Aviation - most indicated they may soon leave the company to fly for other airlines, including those overseas offering far better pay and conditions.”
“As attracting and retaining pilots becomes even more difficult for Network Aviation, the impact on Qantas and the WA economy will be significant if Qantas fails to address the inequities of treating Network pilots like second-class citizens.”
[ENDS]
Note to Editors: Ex-Tropical Cyclone Lincoln is moving to the west southwest and will develop into a tropical cyclone tonight. It is expected to impact the west Pilbara coast and Gascoyne coast on Saturday. Source: Tropical Cyclone 7 Day forecast (bom.gov.au)
For background, images and other information, please see earlier releases