JETSTAR WORKERS WIN $8000 PAY INCREASES WITH SAME JOB SAME PAY
The TWU used new Same Job Same Pay laws to lift the pay and conditions of cabin crew workers at Team Jetstar and Altara – companies Jetstar has used to pay people less.
Qantas pioneered the strategy of creating new companies to avoid decent pay and conditions for workers.
Now TWU members are pioneering a return to decent jobs across the Qantas group.
Hundreds of Team Jetstar and Altara workers will receive increases of over $8000.
Altara workers will also see payments for training for the first time, and pathways to direct employment.
This is a huge win from TWU-won laws passed by the Albanese government, and will also mean more job security for directly-employed Jetstar workers.
Up next is Qantas Freight where we’ve also put in Same Job Same Pay applications for Whymap and Programmed labour hire workers.
UNION WINS!
With media speculating at the end of 2024 that Paul Jones, a key figure in the illegal outsourcing of Qantas ground workers, would be the next Virgin CEO, we wrote to the airline with significant concerns.
Following sustained pressure, Virgin ruled Paul Jones out of the running. We cannot see the same illegal tactics and dismantling of good jobs at Virgin as we have at Qantas. This is a huge union win, and we’ve now met with new CEO Dave Emerson and emphasised the importance of prioritising workers, as well as addressing ongoing concerns like accommodation standards for crew.
Federal Government to save Rex
When Rex went into administration last year, the TWU called on the Federal Government to save the airline to ensure it could continue its critical regional routes.
These routes are so important for those in the regions, from healthcare to tourism to maintaining community.
We ran a poll via YouGov which showed huge support for saving Rex:
• 71% support the Federal Government intervening to ensure Rex continues servicing critical regional routes.
• 75% think the Government should take an equity stake when it bails out failing companies such as Rex.
• 74% support creation of a new independent commission to set standards for jobs and services in aviation.
In a huge win, the Federal Government has now committed to saving Rex if no buyer for the airline is found.
Importantly, the Federal Government will attach conditions to funding like:
• Decent regional services
• Good governance
• Value for taxpayer money
We will also call on the government to ensure decent jobs are a condition of any support.
What’s clear is that this cycle of failed airlines is bad for businesses, workers and communities – we need a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to make sure decisions are made in the long-term interest of the community, not CEO bonuses.
Dnata members go on strike
Earlier this year hundreds of dnata workers around the country took action to begin rebuilding decent aviation jobs.
They won:
• Up to 12% increases over 2 years
• Increased shift penalties
• Improvements to work-life balance, like 7 days’ notice to roster changes, 48-hour rest periods, and no more than 6 consecutive shifts rostered
• Commitment from dnata to pursue industry reform with the TWU – so we can work together to bring up the industry
Qatar Airlines stake in Virgin approved, and a new CEO
Qatar’s 25% stake in Virgin has now had formal-tick off, presenting huge opportunities for workers with the right safeguards in place.
We wrote to Virgin in November 2024 calling on ongoing worker consultation as part of this process.
Virgin agreed to this consultation process to set in place the best practice model for the proposed wet lease, secondments for Virgin pilots and cabin crew and ongoing opportunities for ground crew.
We are calling on Virgin and owners Bain Capital to accelerate this process.
Aviation survey shows work still to be done
Our survey of over 2000 aviation workers showed there’s significant work left to do to ensure all aviation workers have good pay and conditions.
The plan ahead
TWU members are calling on airports, airlines, regulators and the government to address this crisis and establish a ‘Safe and Secure Skies Commission’ – so decisions in aviation are made with workers’ interests in mind, not just executive bonuses.
As the union covering aviation workers right across the airport, we’re building the power to create positive change and rebuild good jobs.