Jetstar’s meeting with pilots union, workers falls through ahead of vote on Christmas strike action

Jetstar’s meeting with the pilots union fell through today as pilots prepare for a vote to strike during one of the year’s busiest periods.

Jetstar and the Australian Federation of Air Pilots have canned their plans to meet ahead of a union vote to decide if pilots will strike at Christmas.

The Fair Work Commission authorised the pilots’ union to hold a ballot vote on whether to continue with their claims for better pay and conditions.

The ballot opened on Friday and will close on December 6.

Jetstar and the Australian Federation of Air Pilots were set to meet today before a union vote decides if pilots go ahead with Christmas strike plans. Picture: Supplied

Jetstar says pilots’ demands would increase costs almost 15 per cent.

The union disputed the figure but refused to reveal what they thought it actually was. Instead, a media spokeswoman said pilots wanted better pay, good management and better rostering among the improved conditions in any future agreement.

The union was unable to say how long they wanted the next agreement to be, suggesting it could be three or four years – after the previous deal expired on April 21.

Jetstar’s narrow body aircraft captains who flew up to 75 hours a month in the 2018 financial year earned $304,576, including super and allowances.

The groups were due to meet this week but the union says Jetstar cancelled that talk and the next scheduled appointment is the second week in December.

Pilots will cast their vote on various actions including deciding not to work overtime, refusing to follow standard fuel-saving procedures or stopping work for up to 24 hours.

Jetstar pilots are demanding better pay, management and rostering. Picture: Daniel Munoz

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Under the current enterprise agreement, it is understood Jetstar pilots receive a three per cent wage increase each year, as well as other benefits and allowances.

Both the company and pilots claim they want a mutually-agreed resolution. Pay negotiations broke down after nearly a year, with Jetstar highlighting that future actions from the union would not change its position.

Earlier this month, AFAP executive director Simon Lutton said pilots were concerned about rostering practices that led to pilot fatigue but which had not been addressed in negotiations to date.

Mr Lutton acknowledged any industrial action taken by pilots would affect the busy Christmas period.

“The Jetstar pilots are disappointed to have to take this step but, as negotiating with the company in good faith has got them nowhere, they have been left with no choice,” Mr Lutton said.

“Jetstar pilots are the lowest-paid jet airline pilots employed by the four major carriers operating in Australia and they are tired of not being valued as highly as their peers at other airlines.”

A Jetstar spokeswoman at the time said it was disappointing AFAP had applied for a vote on industrial action given they had been in “constructive discussions” about a new enterprise agreement since the start of the year.

– with staff writers

Originally published as Jetstar’s meeting with pilots union, workers falls through ahead of vote on Christmas strike action