Australian Federation of Air Pilots

The Australian Federation of Air Pilots ( AFAP ) ( German: Association of Australian pilot ) is a trade union for Australian professional pilots. The pilots' union does not use the English term union. In Australia there are next to the AFAP another Gewerkschaftssorganisation professional pilots, the Australian and International Pilots Association ( AIPA ).

History

The precursor of the AFAP was the Australian Institute of Air Pilots and Navigators, which was based at the Town Hall in Melbourne from 40 aircraft pilots and flight navigators from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia on 18 May 1938.

After the end of World War II, these pilots union called into Australian Air Pilots' Association, which in 1959 broke up because the members introduced by the government settlement system on court level not recognized and they formed the AFAP, which was not subject to these regulations.

1989 there was a pilot strike that one of the hardest strikes - is in Australian history - with the use of the military. The AFAP took long years of cuts in salaries back and when she began her strike on August 18, 1989, the pilots because the government of the Australian Labor Party by Bob Hawke them as employees worked only from 9:00 clock in the morning until 17:00 clock in the evening, wanted to deal with in other professions - as its argument. The dispute escalated, because the pilot refused to take the flight operation, then the government implemented the Australian Defence Force military pilots in civilian air traffic. This leads to the resignation of the striking pilots.

Organizational structure and membership

The organizational structure of AFAP is based on grassroots democracy, the policy is determined by majority voting, and control the decisions of the executive members will be monitored by local councils.

In the AFAP are helicopter pilot, organized pilots of the airlines Cobham Aviation Eastern Australia Airlines, Regional Express Airlines, Sunstate Airlines, Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, Tiger Airways, V Australia and Virgin Australia. The pilots of the airline, Jetstar can decide whether they organize in the AFAP or AIPA.

In addition to lobbying the AIPA offers its members insurance for the loss of the pilot license, a pension and life insurance and discounts for travel, food and car rental.