Thursday, August 29, 2024 Qantas has responded to the Labor Government’s ‘Same Job Same Pay’ legislation, passed in December 2023, which has brought significant changes to long-standing workforce arrangements used by the airline and other businesses across the economy. Following discussions with the Flight Attendants Association Australia (FAAA), Qantas has confirmed its support for the union’s three Same Job Same Pay applications concerning its short-haul cabin crew, which will be submitted to the Fair Work Commission (FWC). In addition to these applications, Qantas has reached an in-principle agreement with the FAAA regarding its long-haul cabin crew workforce.
These discussions have aimed to balance the impacts of the new legislation on both short-haul and long-haul cabin crews, while ensuring that Qantas maintains a competitive edge and sustains its business for the future. The decision to back the union’s applications is expected to result in pay increases for up to 800 Qantas short-haul cabin crew, with the specific amounts to be determined through ongoing negotiations with the FAAA and pending FWC approval. Furthermore, the in-principle agreement includes a plan to amend the current Long Haul Cabin Crew Enterprise Agreement, ensuring that approximately 2,500 international crew receive pay increases similar to their short-haul counterparts.
This agreement also guarantees these employees access to the new A350-1000 Ultra Long Range aircraft, including participation in Project Sunrise flights. Qantas will continue to engage with long-haul cabin crew and their representatives on the proposed changes, which will be subject to an employee vote. The airline anticipates that the gross cost impact of these proposed changes for FY25 will be around $60 million, with implementation expected to begin on November 1, 2024, subject to final agreements with unions and the FWC.
Qantas is looking to offset these costs through revenue generation and savings, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong, profitable business that allows continued investment in new aircraft, ultimately benefiting customers, employees, and shareholders. Comments from Qantas Group Chief People Officer, Catherine Walsh: “Our people continue to deliver exceptional service to our customers every day. We have had positive engagement with the FAAA as we work together to meet the requirements of the legislation while ensuring our business can continue to grow and compete.
“The decision to support the Qantas Domestic Same Job Same Pay applications will result in wage increases for hundreds of our short haul cabin crew. The in‐principle agreement we have reached with the FAAA will, if voted‐up by employees, also mean an increase in pay for most long‐haul cabin crew, while also ensuring our international business can continue to grow in a fiercely competitive environment.” In June and July 2024, the Flight Attendants Association of Australia (FAAA) submitted Same Job Same Pay applications to the Fair Work Commission for various short-haul cabin crew groups working on Qantas’ Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 fleets.
Meanwhile, other businesses within the Qantas Group are currently evaluating the more recent applications submitted by the FAAA and the Transport Workers Union (TWU), which concern certain cabin crew workforces within Jetstar and National Jet Systems, a subsidiary of QantasLink. No decisions have been made yet regarding these applications..
