WORKERS PROTEST AT CAIRNS AIRPORT FOR BETTER, SAFER JOBS
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The TWU has now come to a landmark in-principle agreement with Jetstar which will see significant jumps in pay for cabin crew workers at Altara and Team Jetstar working side-by-side with directly-hired crew, after filing Same Job Same Pay applications to begin rectifying the Joyce model of shifting work to be lower-paid and casualised.
The proposed agreement will go to further member consultation in the coming weeks following the process over the last few weeks with TWU delegates.
Increases in base pay and allowances will see a significant average annual increase of $7,128 for Altara workers, and $7,025 annual increase for Team Jetstar workers. Altara workers will also be paid for training and have opportunities for direct employment at Jetstar, boosting job security not only for Altara workers but the existing directly-hired workforce.
The TWU also recently filed applications for Qantas Freight workers at Programmed and Wymap, some of whom are on base pay of less than $50,000, as part of its broader strategy to reverse the decimation of aviation jobs led by Qantas.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said the agreement would make a real difference to Altara and Team Jetstar workers.
“We’re now a step closer to fair pay for cabin crew at Jetstar, with the average Team Jetstar or Altara worker set to receive thousands more in their pay packets after years of being paid less to do the same job.
“Altara workers until now were appallingly not even paid for weeks of training and had no path to direct employment. This agreement will correct that and put all cabin crew work groups at Jetstar on a more level playing field.
“It doesn’t stop here. Just as Alan Joyce worked to systematically decimate pay and conditions at Qantas, we will work to build back decent, secure jobs in cabin crew and across the airport. If Qantas is serious about turning over a new leaf it will work with the TWU to prioritise good aviation jobs and listen to workers.
“Qantas should never have been able to splinter its workforce into dozens of pieces in this way. To ensure privatised airlines and airports are making decisions in the public interest we need a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to restore the balance.
Recently the TWU also filed Same Job Same Pay applications for Qantas Freight workers at labour hire companies Wymap and Programmed who are on Award pay and conditions.