OFF TO A FLYING START - REPRESENTING WORKERS IN THE AIRLINES INDUSTRY

FOLLOWING A RATIONALISATION OF AREAS OF OPERATIONS IN THE ASU IN QUEENSLAND BETWEEN THE SERVICES UNION AND THE TOGETHER UNION, WE HAVE NOW TAKEN OVER ORGANISING FOR AIRLINE OPERATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

We’ve been off to a flying start catching up with members across the State as our previous Airline Industry organising was limited to North Queensland. Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) negotiations continue to dominate the Industry with The Australian Services Union (ASU) Qantas EBA 12 now certified by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) and the Jetstar EBA has now been certified.

ASU Qantas Delegates met recently in Sydney to consider rostering arrangements for both Airport Operations and the Lounges. For members of our Union, there have been a number of rostering issues simmering away, with a dispute over the failure of Qantas to reinstate rostering arrangements enjoyed before the disruption caused by Covid for Airport Duty Managers in Cairns heading to the FWC.

Shift workers involved in continuous operations like the Airline Industry have limited access to the work flexibility that many now see as a normal part of working arrangements.

No Deal At Virgin

Meanwhile, there is significant opposition by members to the Virgin Australia Guest Services and Guest Contact Centre EBA which would see cuts to conditions like sick leave and a reduction in the real value of wages over the life of the Agreement, which is also too long with a nominal expiry date of June 2026.

Members are rightly supporting a Vote No Campaign. The proposed EBA was supposed to be balloted from the 18 May, but instead, Virgin has delayed the votes and shown its true colours by not only removing the ASU name from the Agreement but also changing provisions which allows Delegates to attend inductions of new employees. Virgin management has also been active in removing our campaign material from the workplace.

In a stark contrast, the Virgin Integrated Operations Centre EBA has been voted up and will be considered by the FWC very soon.

Bargaining is also underway in a number of the smaller airlines including overseas operators and in labour hire operations. Cost of living pressures has focussed our airlines members’ attention on the importance of securing decent timely wage increases and our Union will continue to ensure that they receive fair and equitable deals.