Virgin Australia Captains are set to score a $42,000 pay rise after the Fair Work Commission signed off on an agreement supported by the unions and the carrier.
The news comes as welcome relief for Virgin pilots who took a pay cut in the late stages of 2020 when new owners – Bain Capital – came on board.
The proposed deal to be voted in by Virgin pilots would see a 15 per cent pay rise in the first year, with an additional three per cent rise in the following two years.
Captains will see their base increase from $239,488 to $281,750 after the first rise and $298,908.58 after the final increase.
First officers will see their pay rise from $155,667 to $194,290 over the three years.
Virgin pilots sacrificed six designated days off each year (from 156 to 150) in exchange for the pay increases. Virgin pilots also receive six weeks of annual leave each year.
The news follows Virgin Cabin Crew being given better pay conditions and additional days off at the end of last year.
“The consequences of voting this proposal down will create further uncertainty and prevent substantive pay increases to all employees,” Fair Work Commission deputy president Nicholas Lake said.
“I do not foresee that taking industrial action or prolonging the bargaining will result in a better proposal than what is currently proposed in this recommendation.”
Virgin Australia chief pilot Alex Scamps was pleased about an in-principle agreement and looks forward to ‘constructive discussions’.
“We will now immediately commence the process of drafting a revised enterprise agreement which we intend to put to our pilots for a vote in October,” Scamps said.
“We appreciate the assistance of the FWC and the patience and feedback from our pilots throughout the negotiation process.”
TWU says process took too long
Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine says the negotiation process was drawn out.
“It should not have taken months of negotiations, a no vote and a Fair Work Commission process for Virgin to come to the table with a fair offer that restores the pay and conditions decimated during the administration process,” Kaine said.
“There is significant work Virgin still must do around rostering and fatigue issues.
“With Virgin soaring back to profit and a new CEO waiting in the wings, it’s time for Virgin to get back to the fundamental business of listening to its people and rebuilding morale.”
Qantas walkout signals tense times at HQ
Video surfaced of Qantas Base maintenance workers staging a walkout over the weekend as the Qantas Engineers Alliance members push for a wage increase.
A Qantas spokesperson there had been planned industrial action – but the event which is shown in the video was planned separately.
“We were aware that the engineers would leave the event at a certain time, it was not an unplanned walk out on Vanessa Hudson.”
