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Unions have agreed in-principle to a new Virgin Australia enterprise agreement that “significantly” restores pre-administration pay and conditions for pilots.
The new deal, which comes after months of negotiations and the rejection of a previous offer earlier this year, was brokered by the Fair Work Commission and includes a 21 per cent pay rise over three years and measures to improve work/life balance.
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While designated days off (DDOs) will still be cut, moving from 12 DDOs every roster period to an 11 DDOs (peak)/12 DDOs (off-peak) arrangement, the Transport Workers’ Union says unions secured improvements to fixed days off, part-time work availability, and parental leave.
“It should not have taken months of negotiations, a no vote and a Fair Work Commission process for Virgin to come to the table with a fair offer that restores the pay and conditions decimated during the administration process,” said TWU national secretary Michael Kaine.
“There is significant work Virgin still must do around rostering and fatigue issues. With Virgin soaring back to profit and a new CEO waiting in the wings, it’s time for Virgin to get back to the fundamental business of listening to its people and rebuilding morale.
“Last year ground crew and cabin crew narrowly avoided having to take industrial action and settled decent agreements ensuring pay increases and work-life balance. With all three groups having achieved agreements, Virgin and Bain must now recommit to the plan workers put forward last year to ensure the airline’s long-term future.”
Virgin has welcomed the deal, saying it still includes the highest number of DDOs in the industry at 150 per year compared to 132 at Jetstar and 130 at Qantas, as well as robust safeguards against fatigue-related issues.
“We are pleased to have reached in principle agreement with unions on a revised Enterprise Agreement offer for our pilots, following constructive discussions in the Fair Work Commission last week. The Fair Work Commission has recommended that pilots support the revised proposal,” said Virgin Australia chief pilot Alex Scamps.
“We will now immediately commence the process of drafting a revised EA which we intend to put to our pilots for a vote in October.
“We appreciate the assistance of the FWC and the patience and feedback from our pilots throughout the negotiation process.”
The Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP), which represents most of Virgin’s flight crew, has been contacted for comment.
