Regional travellers and FIFO workers are set to face more flight disruptions and cancellations when pilots for a Qantas subsidiary in Western Australia (WA) go on strike over stalled pay negotiations.
Network Aviation pilots will stop work on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 after the company and union members failed to reach an agreement over pilots’ wages and conditions.
The Australian Federation of Pilots on Oct. 27 notified the company of their decision with senior industrial officer Chris Aikens saying members had no other choice following a drawn-out fight.
“It is disappointing that there has not been any indication in the last four weeks that Qantas management might shift its position to bring its WA-based pilots’ wages and conditions into line with those of other Qantas Group pilots,” Mr. Aikens said.
A Qantas spokeswoman accused the union of bad-faith bargaining, labelling the action unreasonable.
“This latest strike action from the pilots’ union is an unreasonable escalation of the dispute and comes just days after they increased their demands even further,” the spokeswoman said.
“After originally asking for 50 percent pay increases, the union is now demanding even more benefits.”
Pilots for Network Aviation had gone on strike in early-October over what the union described as substandard pay and conditions.
The looming action comes after an updated offer from Qantas was rejected by 90 percent of pilots working for the company.
Both sides were set to enter mediation at the Fair Work Commission on Oct. 30 before the pilots announced the strike.
“Announcing more industrial action before we’ve sat down with the Fair Work Commission suggests the union has no intention of trying to work towards a solution,” the spokeswoman said.
“We’re finalising contingency plans for this next round of action in order to minimise the impact on customers, but this will lead to flight cancellations.”
But Mr. Aikens said the company had relinquished their responsibilities to the commission.
“Qantas management appears unwilling to take control themselves so have shifted the responsibility to the Fair Work Commission,” Mr. Aikens said.
“We look forward to what new and revised offering the company proposes to take to the mediation on Oct. 30.
“We are hoping for the best but planning for the worst.”
Network Aviation, which is wholly owned by Qantas, is WA’s premier charter company for the mining industry.
More than 90 percent of its pilots, a total of 211, are members of the pilots federation.
It also flies private charters and emergency freight to and from WA, and operates more than 300 flights a week.
