Virgin cabin crew to strike against low wages and hazardous work conditions
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Virgin Australia, one of the country's leading airlines, is facing a potential strike from its cabin crew members over allegations of 'poverty pay' and unsafe working conditions.
The looming industrial action could spell chaos for Aussie travellers, with the potential for flight disruptions and cancellations.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU), representing disgruntled cabin crew, lodged an application with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for a protected action ballot last Monday, November 13.
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, protected action ballots are ‘secret ballots that give employees the chance to vote on whether or not they want to initiate protected industrial action’.
This move comes in response to what the union describes as Virgin Australia's failure to address workers' demands for better pay and improved working conditions.
The TWU alleged that the airline's poor rostering system, ‘unrealistic’ turnaround times, and high staff turnover have led to crew members missing breaks during their shifts.
The union’s statement claimed, ‘Successive pay freezes and cuts have caused many to seek second or third jobs to pay the bills.’
'Cabin crew are responsible for passenger safety, including locking and arming doors, customer welfare and relaying important safety information. Fatigue can impair crew’s ability to respond to emergencies on the aircraft or in serious medical situations.'
TWU said ‘hundreds of members’ are in support of the action.
The union is also campaigning for Virgin Australia owners Bain Capital and other shareholders to ensure job security by using direct employees for essential roles, giving employees an annual $1,000 share when the company’s rumoured initial public offering (IPO) happens, continued investment in safe and fair standards, and supporting a ‘rebalance’ in the aviation industry through the creation of a Safe and Secure Skies Commission.
The airline, however, maintained that it is bargaining in good faith. A Virgin spokesman stated that the airline has continued to negotiate with the relevant unions since the Cabin Crew Agreement expired less than two weeks ago, intending to reach an amicable solution.
Another round of negotiations between the union and the Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia (FAAA) will occur on Wednesday, November 15.
‘Both unions were accepting of our request to move the meeting by three business days to ensure adequate time to review and respond to the most recent union claim,’ the spokesman expressed.
Due to this, travellers are left in a state of uncertainty. The potential strike action could disrupt travel plans, particularly for those who have already booked flights with the airline.
In the meantime, Virgin Australia has expressed confidence that an amicable solution will be found. The airline's spokesman continued, 'One that appropriately rewards our valued cabin crew and at the same time protects the underlying commercial resilience of Virgin Australia and the outstanding value and choice it provides every day to the Australian travelling public.’
However, TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine has warned that industrial action is always a last resort and asserted that Virgin workers have remained loyal, worked hard to rebuild the airline and seen it back into profit.
‘Owners of Bain Capital have not held up their end of the bargain to correct rock-bottom pay, improve work-life balance, and fix unsafe rostering,’ Mr Kaine added.
‘We need to see a considerable shift in Virgin’s bargaining approach to ensure a fair, sustainable enterprise agreement offer and avoid last resort strikes.’
It is worth noting that the ground staff and cabin crew received a 5.75 per cent pay increase earlier this year.
What are your thoughts on this situation, members? Have you been affected by similar industrial actions in the past? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.
The looming industrial action could spell chaos for Aussie travellers, with the potential for flight disruptions and cancellations.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU), representing disgruntled cabin crew, lodged an application with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for a protected action ballot last Monday, November 13.
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, protected action ballots are ‘secret ballots that give employees the chance to vote on whether or not they want to initiate protected industrial action’.
This move comes in response to what the union describes as Virgin Australia's failure to address workers' demands for better pay and improved working conditions.
Virgin Australia’s employees lodged an application with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for a protected action ballot. Credit: Josh Withers/Unsplash
The TWU alleged that the airline's poor rostering system, ‘unrealistic’ turnaround times, and high staff turnover have led to crew members missing breaks during their shifts.
The union’s statement claimed, ‘Successive pay freezes and cuts have caused many to seek second or third jobs to pay the bills.’
'Cabin crew are responsible for passenger safety, including locking and arming doors, customer welfare and relaying important safety information. Fatigue can impair crew’s ability to respond to emergencies on the aircraft or in serious medical situations.'
TWU said ‘hundreds of members’ are in support of the action.
The union is also campaigning for Virgin Australia owners Bain Capital and other shareholders to ensure job security by using direct employees for essential roles, giving employees an annual $1,000 share when the company’s rumoured initial public offering (IPO) happens, continued investment in safe and fair standards, and supporting a ‘rebalance’ in the aviation industry through the creation of a Safe and Secure Skies Commission.
The airline, however, maintained that it is bargaining in good faith. A Virgin spokesman stated that the airline has continued to negotiate with the relevant unions since the Cabin Crew Agreement expired less than two weeks ago, intending to reach an amicable solution.
Another round of negotiations between the union and the Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia (FAAA) will occur on Wednesday, November 15.
‘Both unions were accepting of our request to move the meeting by three business days to ensure adequate time to review and respond to the most recent union claim,’ the spokesman expressed.
Due to this, travellers are left in a state of uncertainty. The potential strike action could disrupt travel plans, particularly for those who have already booked flights with the airline.
In the meantime, Virgin Australia has expressed confidence that an amicable solution will be found. The airline's spokesman continued, 'One that appropriately rewards our valued cabin crew and at the same time protects the underlying commercial resilience of Virgin Australia and the outstanding value and choice it provides every day to the Australian travelling public.’
However, TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine has warned that industrial action is always a last resort and asserted that Virgin workers have remained loyal, worked hard to rebuild the airline and seen it back into profit.
‘Owners of Bain Capital have not held up their end of the bargain to correct rock-bottom pay, improve work-life balance, and fix unsafe rostering,’ Mr Kaine added.
‘We need to see a considerable shift in Virgin’s bargaining approach to ensure a fair, sustainable enterprise agreement offer and avoid last resort strikes.’
It is worth noting that the ground staff and cabin crew received a 5.75 per cent pay increase earlier this year.
What are your thoughts on this situation, members? Have you been affected by similar industrial actions in the past? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.
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