Travel chaos looms for major airline

Virgin Australia cabin crew members are set to strike over what they say is “poverty pay” and unsafe conditions at the leading Aussie airline, some claiming they have been forced to miss breaks and take second or third jobs just to make ends meet.

Transport Workers Union (TWU) members have applied to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for a protected action ballot on Monday over the proposed industrial action.

The growing frustration has been mounted by claims Virgin Australia cancelled a meeting responding to workers’ claims for better pay and conditions.

But the airline has said it is attempting to bargain in “good faith” after the Cabin Crew Agreement expired less than two weeks ago.

“Since that time, Virgin Australia has continued to bargain … with a clear commitment to relevant unions of our intention to reach an amicable solution on a new agreement,” a Virgin spokesman said.

In a statement, the TWU said fatigue was “crippling” cabin and ground crew as well as pilots.

It said a poor rostering system, “unrealistic” turnaround times and high levels of staff turnover had caused existing crew members to miss breaks on their shifts.

“Successive pay freezes and cuts have caused many to seek second or third jobs to pay the bills,” the union’s statement reads.

“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.”

In a statement, a Virgin spokesman said the TWU’s move during negotiations “reflects the changed industrial relations landscape and is now a common part of the early process”.

Another round of negotiations between the union and the Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia (FAAA) will take place on Wednesday.

“Both unions were accepting of our request to move the meeting by three business days to ensure there is adequate time to review and respond to the most recent union claim,” the spokesman said.

“Virgin Australia remains confident that an amicable solution will be found. 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.”

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said pay and conditions were “inextricably linked” to workers’ ability to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

“Protected industrial action is always a last resort, but our members know there are no second chances at 30,000 feet,” he said.

“Virgin workers above and below the wing have remained loyal, worked hard to rebuild the airline and seen it back into profit.

“Owners 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 said staff were “utterly exhausted”, some claiming they had near-misses while driving home.

Others had reported fear of mistakes being made due to the conditions, made worse by the high turnover and fatigue-related absenteeism.

“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,” he said.

The pay of ground staff and cabin crew was increased by 5.75 per cent earlier this year.

Virgin Australia recently posted its first profit in more than a decade in October.

The airline doubled its 2022 revenue to $5n in what the airline’s chief Jayne Hrdlicka said was “an important milestone”.

Revenue for domestic, international, regional and charter flying increased 126 per cent from the last financial year.

Bain Capital, Virgin Australia’s owner, has delayed plans for an initial public offering (IPO) in response to the profits.

TWU-aligned workers at Virgin have asked Bain Capital for a $1000 annual employee share scheme in line with the IPO, along with addressing “cultural issues that have led to high turnover, absenteeism and disputation”, among other claims.