Claims being made by the Australian and International Pilots
Association (AIPA) about Qantas pilots’ job security being under threat are completely unfounded.
The threat of industrial action from AIPA comes during ongoing negotiations with Qantas
management, including CEO Alan Joyce, for a new enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) for
international pilots.
The threat of industrial action is part of the union’s posturing to get increased wages and conditions
for international pilots as part of the EBA negotiations and to limit the ability of Qantas Group to
compete with other airlines.
Qantas values the contribution that our pilots make and management are committed to the EBA
negotiations and have entered them in good faith.
Qantas has not made a pilot redundant in almost 40 years and there is no threat to the job security of
our pilots.
Qantas management would be very disappointed if industrial action being threatened by AIPA went
ahead as it would have an impact on the business and cause disruptions for our passengers.
In a meeting with Qantas management yesterday the union made no mention of their threat of
industrial action.
It is important to note that the overall wage claim from AIPA is not 2.5 per cent as the union has
suggested.
The combined effect of the wage claim, classification table and travel claims submitted by AIPA is a
cost increase of approximately 26 per cent over three years, equivalent to an 8.15 per cent increase
year on year.
Qantas rejects demands from the union that only Qantas pilots should fly planes in other Qantas
Group airlines (Jetstar, Jetconnect).
Jetstar is a separate company which is competing with other low-fare airlines – not with the premium
service offered by Qantas.
The claims made by AIPA would, if conceded, put the real job security of many thousands of Qantas
Group employees at risk.
Qantas Rejects Claims From Pilots’ Union
