'Passion doesn't pay rent': Skydivers walk out over huge wage cut proposal

After 10 months of negotiating with a major tourism giant skydivers in three states will walk off the job in a fight for improved pay rates.

Skydivers across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria are set to strike in various locations across the country, including Mission Beach over a pay dispute with tourism giant Experience Co. Picture: File

Skydiving instructors across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria will strike on Friday morning in a fight with tourism giant Experience Co for better wages.

Far North Queensland skydivers are set to go on strike from 9am at the Mission Beach drop zone.

The unprecedented industrial action follows nearly 10 months of stalled negotiations for a first-ever enterprise agreement.

The Australian Workers’ Union claims some offers included cuts of between -$20,000 and -$100,000 a year, while the latest proposal would slash the minimum annual wage for skydiving instructors from $57,000 to just $49,000, with earnings dependent on a very low “per jump” piece-rate.

Australia’s skydiving industry is bracing for major disruption this Friday, as highly trained skydiving instructors employed by tourism giant Experience Co walk off the job and rally at eight sites across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Picture: File

AWU national organiser Jonathan Cook said the proposed wage cuts were not only disrespectful to workers, they undermined the safety of every customer who strapped into a tandem harness.

“Tandem skydiving instructors literally take people’s lives in their hands every time they go to work,” Mr Cook said.

“If you’re not investing in your people, you’re undermining the trust that the industry has built up over years.”

Despite delivering its strongest financial results since FY19, the Australian Workers Union claimed Experience Co had repeatedly pushed wage proposals that would send employees backwards.

“Experience Co’s message is clear: they want to turn these skilled professionals into gig workers, paid less, working more, and carrying the same enormous responsibility,” he said.

He said many of the instructors had completed thousands of jumps and undergone extensive safety training, yet despite the industry’s growth, workers had seen little to no base wage increases in decades.

“Our members love what they do, but passion doesn’t pay rent,” he said.

“This company is thriving, yet it wants its workforce to take massive pay cuts. The industry is going up, but wages and careers are going down – and that’s dangerous.”

AWU members voted 100 per cent in favour of protected industrial action.

“The only agreement our members will endorse is one that protects wages, safety, and the future of skydiving as a profession,” Mr Cook said.

The Australian Workers’ Union said proposed pay cuts for skydivers were not only disrespectful to workers, undermined the safety of every customer who straps into a tandem harness. Picture: File

Workers were brought in-house in 2022 and given bonuses tied to productivity, bonuses the company now wants to scrap entirely, effectively pushing instructors back to wages that barely crack $50,000 a year, the union claimed.

Experience Co chief executive John O’Sullivan called the union’s actions “outrageous”, saying the strike was both unreasonable and irresponsible.

Mr O’Sullivan said Skydive Australia had been actively engaging in good faith bargaining with the AWU since February, but the union had rejected each offer the company put forward.

“The company has made numerous offers that would provide the union’s members with job security and conditions in the sector, including six figure salaries for Tandem Masters in popular locations,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“The AWU has rejected every offer and responded with an ambit claim in November which would add massive costs that are simply not viable for the business in its current state of recovery.

“We are at a loss to understand this action given the strength of our offers.”

Mr O’Sullivan said the company was still recovering from Covid and that their attractions were the “lifeblood” of regional economies which would be damaged by the union’s strike.

“These employment opportunities should be encouraged and fostered, not threatened by unreasonable and irresponsible actions by militant union bosses,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“This attempted hit from the union at a time when we are rebuilding together is reckless and unnecessary.

“We urge the AWU to reconsider its actions and put a stop to the reckless disruption it is causing.”

Originally published as 'Passion doesn't pay rent': Skydivers walk out over huge wage cut proposal