Network Aviation to commence 24-hour stoppage of all flights on Thursday due to enterprise agreement debate

Four Geraldton flights will be entangled in a workers strike threatened by Network Aviation, a subsidiary of Qantas which services regional areas of WA.

The strike is proposed to start on Thursday, February 8 in what could be a 24-hour stoppage of all flights, as pilots attempt to establish a new enterprise agreement with the Fair Work Commission.

It follows 18 months of negotiations which began in September 2022 and votes on three versions of the agreement which reportedly had unanimous support from all unions on the two most recent agreements.

The agreement covers about 250 pilots who operate charter and regular passenger flights in Western Australia and into Darwin, and do not involve domestic or international routes.

Pilots took a 24-hour industrial action in October 2023 over wage disputes and working conditions, which Qantas claim they met with pay increases of 25 per cent and greater roster protection.

Two previous proposed industrial actions in 2023 were called off at the eleventh hour.

The Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP), the union which represents the Network Aviation staff, notified the public of the strike on Monday.

Network Aviation chief operating officer, Trevor Worgan said “We’ve been working to reach a new agreement for over a year now, offering our pilots significant pay increases and other benefits. Given the impasse, we’ve been left with no other choice but to ask the Fair Work Commission to arbitrate.”

A spokesperson for Network Aviation said the company was working through plans to minimise disruption to customers.