Western Australian fly-in, fly-out workers (FIFO) workers are anticipating more turmoil as Qantas (ASX:QAN) pilots vow to press ahead with further strike action until stalled wage negotiations are reignited.
The Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) has advised Qantas of further industrial action this week starting Valentine’s day (14 February and 15 February 2024).
AFAP members, who make up 90% of the pilot group flying for Network Aviation (charter contracts), a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas, and QantasLink (passenger transport), met yesterday and decided to take further protected industrial action (PIA).
Network Aviation’s 250 pilots cater for the resource industry’s FIFO workers at Western Australia mines.
On 5 February, AFAP served the Qantas subsidiary notice of a 24-hour stoppage of all work from 8 February 2024, due to stalled wage negotiations as a result of the expiration of the Network Aviation Pilots Enterprise Agreement 2016 on 31 October 2020, as reported by Mining.com.au.
The AFAP is the only pilot union to have filed for PIA, and as such only AFAP members can participate in the ballot and take PIA.
Network Aviation operates more than 300 weekly flights, with regular services from Perth Airport.
With 5,500 members, the AFAP is the largest professional association and industrial organisation for commercial pilots and Australia.
Write to Adam Drought at Mining.com.au
Images: Australian Federation of Air Pilots
