The new Cabin Crew Enterprise Agreement (EA), which promises better working conditions for domestic cabin workers, has been welcomed by Virgin Australia's flight attendants. The EA has received endorsements from the Flight Attendants' Association of Australia (FAAA) and the Transport Workers' Union of Australia (TWU).
Virgin Australia celebrates a historic occasion as its domestic cabin crew EA obtains initial approval, marking a huge achievement for the airline and its staff. An overwhelming 90% of flight attendants voted in support of the proposal.
The new EA, which ensures higher pay, updated allowances, overtime policies, and more perks for Virgin Australia's flight attendants, has the full support of the TWU and the FAAA. This is a result of fruitful talks that were held with both unions.
94% of cabin crew personnel, according to Virgin Australia, cast ballots. The EA is proposing current cabin staff members compensation hikes of up to 14% over three years, depending on their specific talents and tenure.
However, the Australian Fair Work Commission (FWC) has the last say over whether or not to approve the EA. Virgin Australia highlights that the expenses related to the EA are consistent with the agreements made with other airline employee groups.
Virgin Australia, the TWU, and the FAAA came to an early understanding in principle on December 14, 2023. Based on each employee's skill level and experience, the airline promised pay increases of more than 15% over a three-year period at that time, claiming that the expenses were in accordance with agreements reached with other employee groups.
The parties were engaged in continuing negotiations, assisted by the FWC, with the goal of reaching a final draft agreement. Before the end of January 2024, they promised to put it to a vote among the flight attendants of Virgin Australia, with the FWC attesting to the settlement of the concerns that had been brought up earlier.
The FAAA declared in December 2023 that, shortly before Christmas, 98% of its members had approved multiple 24-hour work stoppages. The Federal Secretary of the FAAA, Teri O'Toole, issued a warning, stating that flight attendants at Virgin Australia had become tired of taking care of passengers like family while facing harassment from management.
Virgin Australia was purchased by US-based private equity firm Bain Capital in June 2020. Jayne Hrdlicka, the CEO of the airline, recently departed after four years, and there have been rumours that the company asked her to leave.
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