UNDER A new Jetstar Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA), international cabin staff will be paid up to $160 a week less than other Australian cabin crews on international flights, according to the ACTU
UNDER A new Jetstar Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA), international cabin staff will be paid up to $160 a week less than other Australian cabin crews on international flights, according to the ACTU.
The airline has created 200 new flight attendant positions to support the start-up of low fare international services, and has received up to 15,000 applications for roles.
Flight attendants will be offered five-year AWAs which also cut other conditions, said ACTU president Sharan Burrow.
Jetstar have claimed that an employee bonus scheme based on selling items in-flight will compensate cabin crew for cuts in their base rate of pay and allowances, said Burrow.
“With a $10,000 a year pay cut for cabin crew – that’s a lot of three dollar headsets and passenger blankets to sell,” said Burrow.
The remuneration package for a new international flight attendant will range between $41,000 to $46,000 per annum, including superannuation, for a 38-hour working week.
The AWAs include six weeks of annual leave, eight rostered days off per 28-day roster period, sick leave, performance bonuses, special language payments for bilingual employees and overseas living expense benefits.
Jetstar would continue to operate on the basis that the wages and salaries of its workforce would incorporate components based on the existing and future performance of the company, according to Jetstar CEO Alan Joyce.
“Jetstar wants a mutually beneficial workplace arrangement for international cabin crew that best meets the timing of these international services, as well as the operational and commercial needs of the new business venture,” he said.
“This can be best achieved through Australian Workplace Agreements that provide a sound salary package with attractive benefits and career progression.”
