Fair Work progress on Qantas subsidiary strike

The Fair Work Commission has reserved judgement on intervention in the ongoing dispute between union pilots at Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation and their employer.

At a Perth hearing today, legal representatives for both sides told FWC deputy president Abbey Beaumont they did not oppose a finding of intractable bargaining in the matter.

However, the parties requested that an intractable bargaining declaration be made tomorrow, to allow the Australian Federation of Airline Pilots representing striking workers to withdraw a strike notice issued for Friday and Monday.

The parties also agreed to a 13-day negotiation period post-declaration if an intractable bargaining declaration is made.

Deputy president Beaumont reserved her judgement, taking into consideration of the parties, and said she intended to act promptly on the matter.

An intractable bargaining declaration would result in Fair Work intervention.

The hearing comes on the same morning as the latest round of strikes at the airline kick in, with affected pilots supported through payments from a $68,000 fund raised over three weeks.

The dispute between Network Aviation and the union has been ongoing for more than 18 months, with pilots requesting a 25 per cent pay increase.

The union says the proposed pay rise would bring its pilots in line with other staff across the Qantas group.

Pilots for the airline, which services instrastate routes to resources projects and also runs flights for QantasLink and Qantas, have been striking off and on since the beginning of February.

More than 90 per cent of the airline’s 250-strong pilot staff pool are members of the union.

A survey of AFAP pilots flying for Network and QantasLink found more than 75 per cent did not have confidence in the chief pilot, according to results published late last month.