Following a 24-hour stoppage strike on February 8 2024, Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation has been informed by the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) of further strike action by Network Aviation Pilots. The pilots will stop work for three consecutive days, from February 14 to 16.
90% of Network Aviation's 250 pilots are AFAP members. The Qantas Group said in a statement that impacted passengers will be contacted directly and that contingency plans have been activated for strikes on February 14 and 15. However, plans for February 16 are still to be devised and will be ""put in place in the coming days"".
""Qantas management has angered our network by walking away from negotiations and, last week, taking previously agreed items off the bargaining table,"" commented AFAP senior industrial officer Chris Aikens.
However, Network Aviation chief operating officer Trevor Worgan said: ""We have not [walked] away from negotiations. Given the impasse, we were left with no other choice but to ask the Fair Work Commission to arbitrate to bring this to a close."" Worgan also stated: ""We've been working to reach a new agreement for 18 months, offering our pilots significant pay increases of more than 25%, plus annual 3% increases along with new allowances and greater protections.""
Aikens added: ""Qantas can readily resolve this by recognising that Network pilots are only seeking to achieve terms and conditions of employment that are commonplace amongst the Qantas pilots and the airline industry overall.""
Aikens also said that Network Aviation pilots are the ""lowest paid jet pilots in the Qantas Group.” However, it is worth noting that Network Aviation pilots typically fly less than other Qantas Group pilots with its route network built around the western Australia area to support the mining industry.
Qantas faces further pilot strike action
