AFAP EA Update
As advised at the start of this week the AFAP, based on the member surveys, wrote to the company seeking movement in seven areas. The company has responded this afternoon. An extract of the letter is detailed below
"...it is clear that the seven issues identified in your email involve substantial additional cost. Accordingly, and consistent with the Company’s repeatedly expressed position, it cannot agree to these issues, noting also that your email does not identify what terms (if any) previously agreed, the AFAP and its members would be prepared to move on in order to offset the substantial cost associated with any or all of these seven issues. In this light and as you have indicated that those issues are “crucial” to an agreement being reached, it appears that bargaining is at an impasse, with no reasonable prospect of agreement being reached."
In light of this refusal to move their position, it is clear the only industrial avenue left open to us is the resumption of Industrial Action. This is on the basis that the company has chosen not to resolve this set of negotiations despite having the ability - and the resources - to do so.
Your negotiating team recognise this is a big step, with the resumption PIA, but we still firmly believe that Qantas could choose to resolve this EA quickly by recognising Network Pilots as Qantas Pilots and reward us appropriately.
Consequently we have today advised the company of a 24 hour stoppage of work to commence on Thursday 8th February.
Now is the time to stand united and to convince Qantas to actually treat Network pilots fairly and quickly resolve these negotiations rather than spend months in Fair Work.
As always in unity:
Stephen Maughan: smaughan@iinet.net.au
Cameron Mapley: Mappers@gmail.com
Ben Walmsley: ben.walms@gmail.com
In addition, the AFAP Senior Industrial Officer Chris Aikens