The Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) union representing Tigerair pilots has announced its intention to commence protected industrial action from Friday February 7 after a breakdown in enterprise bargaining negotiations with the airline.
The AFAP says it has been in negotiations with the Tigerair since May 2013, and despite reaching an agreement on wages, the airline had refused to “address critical issues” such as roster protections and protection of promotion opportunities for Tigerair pilots.
“The company refuses to come into line with industry practice on these issues,” AFAP Executive Director Simon Lutton said in a statement. “At the moment the company has an unfettered right to change pilot rosters, and usually without so much as a call to the pilot.” The AFAP says it wants a guarantee that rosters will be protected by containing changes to within two hours of the original rostered duty so as not to disrupt the family and other commitments of its members.
It says the work bans will commence at 3.00am on Friday, and will include refusing to fly any aircraft that has been reported with a permissible defect, or not working on days off. “February is traditionally a quiet period so we hope to minimise the impact on the public. If anyone is affected, however, we apologise but ask them to call on the company to settle this dispute now,” Mr Lutton added.
UPDATE: Tigerair tweeted the following late Thursday: “Potential industrial action tomorrow has been
suspended. No disruptions across the wkend anticipated.”
