For the first time, TWU, AFAP and AIPA recently filed Protected Action Ballots for Express Freighters pilots after an offer from the company that would put these pilots at the bottom of the industry. With over 90% of Express Freighters pilots voting yes to the ballots, low-level action including ceasing work on days off and not completing work before scheduled shift commencement will begin from Friday, with the unions setting a pathway for escalating action without a decent offer from Qantas.
Pilots at Express Freighters perform work for the Qantas Group including a significant amount of Australia Post parcel freight, with the results giving over 100 pilots the right to take industrial action.
After six months of negotiation Qantas has refused to improve an offer that in some cases would see pilots' remuneration hovering around the bare legal minimum of the Air Pilots Award 2020, and would entrench poor work-life balance.
Earlier this year Qantas posted half-yearly results of $1.39 billion in underlying profit.
The TWU and AFAP are calling for an increase in pay to match current industry standards, as well as improvements to roster protections and additional days off to improve work-life balance.
Express Freighters pilots perform mostly overnight, "back of the clock" flights and spend up to 260 hours away from home per month.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:
"Industrial action is always a last resort, but once again we've seen Qantas come to the bargaining table seeking to lowball its workers instead of give them a fair offer.
"Pilots in the Qantas Group across three unions are standing up and saying it's time Qantas comes forward with an industry-standard deal that provides improvements to work-life balance and decent pay increases.
"Across the Qantas supply chain we are still seeing workers struggling with poor rostering, declining conditions, and contracts going to the cheapest bidder. Time and again we've heard Qantas say it's changed but we are yet to see evidence of that.
"We need to stop seeing workers treated as a cost to be lowered rather than an investment. We need a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to rebalance the industry and make sure it benefits everyone."
AFAP Executive Director Simon Lutton said:
"When compared to equivalent pilots, the offer made by Qantas to its Express Freighters pilots represents the lowest terms and conditions on virtually every metric."
"It is a very big step for pilots to engage in protected industrial action however Qantas have left Express Freighters pilots with no alternative.
"After many years of being exploited by Qantas, Express Freighters pilots have said enough is enough.
"It is disappointing that it has come to this however we hope that by Express Freighters pilots exercising their lawful rights, Qantas will now come to the table with a fair and reasonable offer."
