In a groundbreaking agreement for their industry, AMWU members within the Air Crew at CHC helicopters have negotiated an agreement to reduce dangerously long work hours and gain an average pay rise of 17.8 per cent over three years.
“It’s about parity and equity and I think that’s what we’ve got under the new agreement,” said AMWU delegate Bill Smits.
The Air Crew conduct search and rescue operations for members of the Royal Australian Air Force and for civilians through Air Ambulance Associations across Australia.
Bill has been an Air Crew person for 28 years and he says it can be a tough job.
“In the Air Ambulance role we’re trained to assist MICA paramedics. We do a lot of hands on work with patients so you get exposed to a lot of death and trauma. You need passion to do the job but also aviation, piloting and medical skills.”
Three years ago two Air Crew workers approached the AMWU and asked if they could join.
The two workers became AMWU delegates and now 48 of 55 Air Crew workers at CHC Helicopters are members of the AMWU, with support from AMWU National Industrial Officer Darren Hanisch.
“We can’t heap enough praise on Darren and the AMWU for the support and advice they’ve given us especially in terms of Fair Work and the new rules,” said AMWU Delegate at CHC in NSW, David Collins.
“The advice, direction and technical expertise we get from the AMWU is just invaluable.”
The members began negotiations for a new Union Collective Agreement in mid 2009 after the previous agreement expired in August 2008.
Under the previous agreement, the Air Crew had signed away their right to have the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulate their work hours in return for a minimal pay rise.
Bill Smits believes the old agreement resulted in dangerously long work hours.
“We get paid well for what we do but I work a 56 hour week with 30 hours of recall. So under the old agreement I was actually making myself available to the company for 86 hours a week which is unfair. On top of that we were concerned about safety issues and how the long shifts could affect not only our welfare, but also the welfare of the people we are trying to rescue.”
He said the major aim in the negotiations for the Air Crew was to achieve the same duty hours as the pilots at CHC helicopters, because they still have rosters regulated by CASA.
“The big ticket winner in this agreement was regaining the same hours as the pilots. We wanted to achieve it and we got it back. The pilots can only fly for 10 hours in a 24 hours period but in our old agreement we would have to work 16 hours to get relieved. Working a 16 hour shift is a concern in terms of performance and safety.”
The agreement also guarantees Air Crew Cadetships will offered at CHC Helicopters.
“We wanted a guarantee in the agreement on cadetship which are basically like apprenticeships,” said David.
“Under the new agreement three cadets will be put on initially and when the next base gets up and running there will be four cadetships a year. It’s a great idea and we’ve been pushing for it for years to try and get new blood into the industry.”
Under the new agreement AMWU members have also won significant increases in overtime rates and a sign on bonus of $800 if the members vote for the agreement.
AMWU National Industrial Officer, Darren Hanisch, congratulated the two delegates on their hard work in reaching the agreement.
"Without the organisational skills and capabilities of the two delegates concerned, the AMWU would never have been successful in reaching the outcomes which we have delivered. The skills demonstrated by the delegates to organise their workforce on a national basis, and to confront the issues that were facing them, is a credit to them both."