AMWU members in the helicopter sector of Australia’s aviation industry are building their collective strength as they continue to fight for greater recognition of their profession. 

Australia’s civilian helicopter industry, which employs several hundred engineers and aircrew across a number of important roles (emergency, search and rescue, transport and border surveillance) was first organised by the AMWU several years ago.  

Since then, the union has grown wages and conditions for aircrew members at CHC Helicopters, the largest provider of emergency medical helicopter services nationally.

The union is now preparing to secure the first union collective agreement for workers at Australian Helicopters. 

Australian Helicopters delegate, Sean Cox, is based at Horn Island in the Torres Strait. He says the members feel better represented under the banner of the AMWU. 

“We are more confident in having the support of the AMWU, confident in getting reliable representation and advice.

“In the early days, the aircrew were a small group and we didn’t have the benefit of this standard of professional representation. It was proving difficult to negotiate a better deal.” 

He said the members were looking forward to achieving better financial and non-financial equity with their counterparts in the aviation industry through their first AMWU negotiated collective agreement.  

“We recognise that there will always be separate pay scales in the industry between pilots, crew and engineers, but it’s the amount of difference that we’re having issues with.”

Mr Cox also said there was a growing awareness amongst helicopter aircrew, that working together was important in raising the profile and respect for the sector. 

“More recently there’s been a recognition from within the crewies at Australian Helicopters and CHC that we should be working more closely together. We’re a reasonable number now and it makes sense for us to have a united front in aviation.” 

Bill Smits, a 34-year veteran with CHC Helicopters, said the more workers who joined the AMWU, the better off everyone in the industry would be. 

“For me it’s not just about growing union membership within our company (CHC) but it’s about growing the membership in the industry. In the past aircrew haven’t been licensed, we have in house qualifications. 

“The consequence is that no one has ever seen us as being true professionals. Yet we are truly professional people.”

Mr Smits, who is also involved in negotiating a new collective agreement with CHC Helicopters, said the workers felt stronger for joining the AMWU.
 
“By having the support of our union, our management are finally realising we are professionals. We’re getting comparative pay and conditions to others in the aviation industry. Hopefully we’ll see that recognition outside the industry as well.”   

AMWU National Officer Darren Hanisch, who first recruited aircrew members in 2006, said the union had long-term objectives for the sector. 

“We want to see an industry based award and we want to secure industry based qualifications. Now that there is a growing collective amongst the members we can achieve that together.

“Being a part of a union, gives our aircrew members a real voice. And it’s started to give them the professional recognition they’ve long deserved.”