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Skydiving instructors say they are making progress on pay talks following a Valentine’s Day strike.
Around 70 instructors for Skydive Australia, part of Experience Co, walked off the job at eight sites around Australia over the weekend seeking better pay and conditions. It followed similar industrial action in December over stalled enterprise agreement negotiations.
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“Before strike notices were put in, the company had walked away from negotiations; since then, we have had an emergency bargaining meeting last Wednesday where more progress was made, and the parties are meeting today at 3pm to see the company’s new offer,” Jonathan Cook, AWU national organiser, told Australian Aviation.
“AWU members will not stop until they set the standard for skydive instructors in this country. This is the first ever negotiation in the industry, and to be honest, it’s the first time ever that skydivers are having a say on their employment terms and conditions.
“Our members know how important it is to get this right so if there is no improved offer we’d expect more strike action into the future.”
In a weekend press release, Cook said members would not accept any offer that did not include “fair pay and conditions”.
“Our members have been offered $58,000 a year, that’s a -2.33% pay cut during a cost-of-living crisis,” he said.
“These negotiations have been tempestuous from day one, with skydivers who’ve been with the company for decades even being told they would be better off quitting and becoming contractors.
“Our members aren’t asking for anything extreme – just a secure job that recognises the high-risk work they perform.”
Skydive Australia says it has not walked away from negotiations, but has offered a pay increase in base salary for both full-time and part-time skydivers, as well as approximately a seven per cent increase in piece rates for items including tandem jumps and handicam.
Speaking in December, Experience Co said its previous offers included “some of the best wages and conditions in the sector, including six figure salaries and job security”.
According to John O’Sullivan, chief executive of Experience Co, the AWU’s demands would “add massive costs that are simply not viable for the business”.
“Skydive Australia is effectively a small business that proudly employs mostly young people in regional Australia,” he said.
“These employment opportunities should be encouraged and fostered, not threatened by unreasonable and irresponsible actions by militant union bosses.
“We are at a loss to understand this action given the strength of our offers, and we call upon the union to return to the bargaining table with reasonable expectations so we can come to an agreement as quickly as possible.
“This hit from the union at a time when we are rebuilding together is reckless and unnecessary.”
Skydive Australia says the AWU has notified the company of its intention to take further industrial action.
