Network Aviation strikes to resume from Wednesday

Pilots from Network Aviation will resume protected industrial action for three days this week. The Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP), which suspended planned strikes over the weekend due to the risk from ex-Tropical Cyclone Lincoln, are planning three rolling one-day work stoppages for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday now that the threat has passed. Network Aviation operates Qantas’ FIFO and charter services, as well as scheduled QantasLink flights, in WA. In a statement, AFAP senior industrial officer Chris Aikens addressed Qantas’ tactic of flying in 737-800s and charter planes from other airlines to break the strike, branding it a waste of money. “Qantas management would prefer to spend up to $8m a day trying to ride this storm rather than investing in its pilot workforce in Western Australia,” he said. “What the pilots are asking for is just a drop in the ocean for the company given the half-year profit of $1.25b posted by Qantas on Thursday. “Despite the need to take further action, we remain open to meeting with the company in the hope that it can offer something that will be acceptable to this pilot group.” According to Aikens, at an AFAP members’ meeting earlier this month attended by more than half of the Network Aviation workforce, most indicated they “may soon leave the company to fly for other airlines, including those overseas offering far better pay and conditions”. “As attracting and retaining pilots becomes even more difficult for Network Aviation, the impact on Qantas and the WA economy will be significant if Qantas fails to address the inequities of treating Network pilots like second-class citizens,” he said.<br/>