FAAA strikes deal to help Virgin Blue cabin crew find better work life balance

Virgin Blue cabin crew will receive a 3% annual pay increase after a deal was successfully negotiated between the airline and unions.

This new arrangement means the average cabin crew will receive an extra $1300 in the first year followed by $1338 the following year.

Improvements in the new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement also includes a change from the monthly cycle to a 28 day cycle as well as an increase in paid maternity leave from six weeks to 10 week

The airline has also agreed to extend unpaid maternity leave from 52 to 78 weeks, as well as allow mothers returning to full time work the option of part time work for the first three months.

Flight Attendance Association of Australia’s (FAAA) Industrial Officer Carolyn Summers said that the union had delivered on members requirements.

“They wished to maintain the protective provisions in their current EBA – and these have been improved upon having regard to the increased productivity sought by the company.” Ms Summers said.

A spokesperson for Virgin Blue indicated that the new Agreement was a fair balance between the needs of their crew as well as future growth needs of the company.

“The new Agreement also reflects the culture and demographics of our cabin crew.

“Additional part time positions and increased maternity leave are important lifestyle factors for many of our crew members, said the spokesperson.

Under the agreement unions were also able to increase the number of part time positions from 70 to 200.

This success was the result of the collective bargaining efforts of unions locked into negotiations with the airline for over 14 months.

The previous agreement had expired for over four years, before the new EBA was successfully negotiated.

Other entitlements outlined in the agreement include:
Overtime payable after 9 hours 30 minutes in a day and 140 hours over four weeks

• Capped hours in any four-week period across a single roster
• Further cabin crew protection including sensible skewing of hours between one roster and the next
• Two weeks paid paternity leave
• No ‘drafting’ policy, which no longer required employees to work on their days off
• A guaranteed start time of no earlier that 7 am the day after taking sick leave
• An increase in the number of ‘designated days off’ to three days a year
• Guarantee of two days off after six days on duty

Pay increases will come into affect by February 2010