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Virgin Australia pilots have knocked back a proposed enterprise agreement that would have increased pay and conditions but reduced annual days off.
61 per cent of pilots voted against the EA, which had been backed in-principle by the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP), in a ballot which had a 98 per cent participation rate. The Transport Workers Union (TWU) had not backed the deal, which now goes back to the negotiating table.
The proposed EBA would have cut pilots’ days off from 156 to 150 per year, with the TWU concerned over potential impacts on fatigue.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said pilots had taken a stand on the “important issue” of access to days off, despite “significant union-won pay increases and other improved conditions”.
“Through months of negotiations, pilots have successfully landed an enterprise agreement that significantly improves pay and conditions after sacrifices were made to get Virgin flying again. This vote shows pilots will not tolerate their legitimate fatigue concerns being ignored or even worsened through the reduction of days off,” he said.
“This vote sends a strong message to Virgin and owners Bain Capital to listen to pilots’ concerns and return to negotiations ready to work together on the constructive solutions already put forward by the TWU Pilots committee. With a few key adjustments, Virgin pilots can very soon have an agreement worth voting for.”
Virgin Australia’s general manager flight operations and chief pilot, Alex Scamps, said the airline is “disappointed” that the deal, which included pay rises of up to 22.6 per cent for captains and up to 24.3 per cent for first officers over three years, was rejected.
“At 150 designated days off per year (in addition to six weeks annual leave), the proposed EA would have preserved the most generous days off for any major airline in Australia. It would have also introduced new measures to strengthen work-life balance and added the most advanced fatigue management protections in Australia,” said Scamps.
“We acknowledge and respect the feedback from our pilots and we will continue to work with the AFAP and the TWU to address the key areas raised.
“We remain committed to an outcome that delivers enhanced benefits for our pilots, as well as ensuring Virgin Australia can continue to deliver great value and terrific choice to Australian travellers.”
The rejection came after a TWU survey of 180 pilots at Virgin in May claimed nearly half would be likely to quit if the proposal to cut rostered days off went through, with pilots also concerned about changes to the airline’s rostering system.
AFAP has been contacted for comment.
