Qantas Short Haul EA Update No 18
SH pilots will have received the Chief Pilot’s update yesterday, in which the proposed Qantas Airways Limited Pilots (Short Haul) Enterprise Agreement 2024 (proposed SH EA9) and supporting documents were provided to pilots eligible to vote. This marked the start of the access period prior to SH pilots voting on the proposed SH EA9.
The access period is a requirement under the Fair Work Act and ensures that eligible pilots have a copy of the EA offer, accompanying materials and notification of voting at least 7 days prior. The access period provides an opportunity for all pilots to review the EA offer and available supporting information prior to voting.
The ballot will open at 9 am (AEDT) on Tuesday 18 February 2025 and will close at 12 noon (AEDT) on Monday 24 February 2025.
We strongly encourage all SH pilots to take the time to assess the final document and the available information (see further below) to be informed prior to voting.
AFAP Position
The AFAP’s position is that fundamentally, the EA offer does not provide the guaranteed neutral financial starting point from which concessions and offsets can be negotiated, and as such, and in the context of our survey results, we are unable to give this new offer our endorsement.
In diving deeper into the individual items, the concern about the lack of guarantees around remuneration derived from structural changes ostensibly remains. Pilots cannot rely on the Company’s purported pay gains from structural changes when guarantees are not forthcoming.
The changes needed to make this proposal fair and acceptable are numerous although not out of reach. The AFAP presented a modified and compromised position in line with good faith bargaining in our ‘post no vote’ negotiations in December (see below). This position was summarily dismissed by the Company once they had secured in principle agreement with AIPA.
The Company’s second EA9 offer contains some steps in the right direction, but these positive steps must be considered in the context of the offsets being asked to pay for them. Pilots must weigh up the changes and decide if the trades offs are worth accepting.
Pilots must do this with a thorough understanding of what the potential next steps are. The QPC believes in equipping pilots with the best advice and understanding of the process that would follow a ‘no’ vote.
The AFAP provide the following documents to inform pilots in making their decision as to how to vote:
The AFAP's explanatory memorandum on the second SH EA9 available
here.
The AFAP’s updated alternate offer from December 2024 is available
here.
Summary
We urge you to take the time to carefully read the EA documents along with the other material above from the AFAP and assess the package in its entirety before participating in the vote. Ultimately the decision rests with the pilot group as to whether the EA as proposed should be approved and the AFAP will support the decision whatever the outcome.
If you have any questions or concerns over any aspects of the document, we welcome members sending emails, or contacting the QPC representatives or the AFAP legal team directly to ensure that you are informed prior to voting.
Questions
For any enquiries regarding Short Haul bargaining or other matters at Qantas please contact any of your QPC representatives or the AFAP legal and industrial team of Senior Legal/ Industrial Officer Pat Larkins (
patrick@afap.org.au), Senior Industrial Officer Chris Aikens (
chris@afap.org.au), and Executive Director Simon Lutton (
simon@afap.org.au).
Regards,
AFAP Qantas Pilot Council
Michael Egan – Chair
Mark Gilmour – Vice- Chair
Daniel Kobeleff – Secretary
Michael Armessen – Committee Member
David LaPorte – Committee Member
Josh Chalmers – Committee Member
Rob Close – Committee Member