ALAEA: VIRGIN AGREEMENT GOES TO VOTE
Wednesday, 09 June 2010 18:56
Members should be aware that Virgin Tech Engineers are currently voting on a new wage agreement that has been negotiated with management. The offer came about after 16 months of talks with the airline, Protected Industrial Action being supported by over 90% of the membership and ultimately not being required when a flurry of last minute meetings resolved all outstanding differences. During the process ALAEA membership grew from 70 members to 220, or around 80% of the workforce. I have recommended members vote in favour of the offer.
The following improvements have been made and refer to our original list of 14 claims –
|
Original Claim |
Achieved? |
Outcome |
|
Wage increases of 4% pa from April 2009 |
partially |
Wage increase of 3% April 2009, 4% April 2010, 3% April 2011, 3% April 2012, 3% April 2013 – Agreement expires July 2013 |
|
ATO rate travel allowances |
partially |
All allowances increased from $100 per night to $135 per night |
|
Permanent Night Shift Allowance of $8500 pa |
predominantly |
PNS allowance up from $4200 pa to $8000 pa |
|
Additional licence payment of $5500 pa |
Yes |
Second and each subsequent aircraft type licence held up from $0 to $5500 pa |
|
Dispute settlement procedure with right to Arbitration |
Yes |
Rights extended from conciliation to arbitration |
|
Annual Leave to increase to 6 weeks pa |
Yes |
Up from 5 weeks to 6 |
|
Small Port on call allowance of $5200 pa |
partially |
On call allowance up from $0 pa to $100 per block or $4000 pa if all leave is taken |
|
Supervisors allowance to $12,800 pa |
partially |
Increase from $11,400 pa to $12,200 pa |
|
Super 10% |
No |
Government has since announced increases to Super |
|
Confirmed duty travel and adequate accommodation |
Yes |
Travel now confirmed and additional hard lying payment of $50 per night if hotels inadequate |
|
Standardise LSL at 13 weeks after 10 years |
No |
Will need to wait for next EA discussions |
|
Recognition of prior service with Jetcare |
Yes |
For LSL calculations time spent with previous employer to be recognised |
|
Retention of existing job functions |
partially |
Day shift numbers set in capital cities and reviewed annually with regard to flight schedule |
|
Cease practice of using AMEs with licences as acting LAMEs |
Yes |
LAMEs who have been employed as AMEs and acted up as LAMEsto be offered full time positions as LAMEs |
Other improvements worded into the new Agreement include –
- Should Virgin use Cat A licences, they will be capped to 10% of the workforce and all Cat A holders to be offered a full aircraft Type Course within 2 years.
- Workplace consultation clause requires Virgin to demonstrate how relevant matters raised by employees were incorporated into final decision.
- Existing rosters locked in for each employee and changes only by mutual agreement.
- Reimbursed study payments of up to $3000 pa.
- Daily meal breaks up from 35 minutes to 50 minutes.
- Employees still on AWAs to move to new Agreement.
Should the Agreement be approved by employees and Fair Work Australia, the new aggregate wage rates based on a 4 on 4 off 11.4 hour day will be as follows –
|
Grade |
Applicable |
DDNN rate |
PNS rate |
|
1 |
AME 1 |
$61,360 |
$69,360 |
|
2 |
AME 2 |
$67,049 |
$75,049 |
|
3 |
AME 3 |
$69,680 |
$77,680 |
|
4 |
CAT A LAME |
$80,000 |
$88,000 |
|
5 |
Mechanical - 1 aircraft |
$117,572 |
$125,572 |
|
5 |
Mechanical - 2 aircraft |
$123,072 |
$131,072 |
|
6 |
Avionics or B1 - 1 aircraft |
$131,992 |
$139,992 |
|
6 |
Avionics or B1 - 2 aircraft |
$137,492 |
$145,492 |
|
7 |
B1 plus B2 (5 cat) - 1 aircraft |
$136,992 |
$144,992 |
|
7 |
B1 plus B2 (5cat) - 2 aircraft |
$142,492 |
$150,492 |
The ALAEA commenced this process with one union Rep at Virgin. We finished with a 10 person Virgin negotiating committee, many of them now ALAEA Reps. The solid offer has not come about by chance; it happens when union members stick together, follow ALAEA advice and through the tireless efforts of the negotiating committee members, often spent during their own personal time. I hope all can extend appreciation to the following members who have assisted, namely –
Mike Watson (Sydney) Andy Curtis (Brisbane) Paul Kennedy (Sydney)
John Mafrici (Sydney) Alan Large (Brisbane) Mitch Gallagher (Perth)
Wayne Cail (Brisbane) Peter Walker (Brisbane) Scott Ratcliffe (Brisbane)
Dean Fitzpatrick (Melbourne) Wesley Bell (ALAEA VP) Wayne Vasta (Asst. Fed Sec)
STEVE PURVINAS
ALAEA Federal Secretary
Help Cabin Crew protect your safety and security in the air by sending the Government a clear message that there should be no reduction in the number of Cabin Crew onboard an aircraft. Visit here to sign our petition.
