Who we are
The Flight Attendants Association of Australia, also known as the FAAA, is the industries’ representational body that only represents cabin crew on an individual and group basis, to employers and governments.
Wins for cabin crew!
Some of the biggest wins the FAAA have achieved in our almost 70-year history include:
• The right for female cabin crew to continue working over the age of 35, eliminated weight restrictions, and allow married women to continue to fly
• The right for male cabin crew to wear short sleeves at work, and successfully argued for Qantas cabin crew to be allowed to have facial hair
• Successfully pursued the government to end passengers smoking onboard aircraft, and responsible service of alcohol laws onboard Australian aircraft
• Gained the right for cabin crew to wear glasses and braces on their teeth
• Argued and won industry wide duty hour limits, rest periods following a duty and bidding systems – so cabin crew could have some say and control in balancing a healthy work and life balance
• The industry wide practice of 6 weeks of annual leave year
• Negotiation and redeployment of Tigerair and Virgin Australia international crew when those airlines collapsed during COVID-19
• Parliamentary enquiry into cabin crew ratio with over 9,000 signatures sent to government
• Successfully campaigned for industrial relations reform, leading to over 30 major changes to working conditions for all workers in Australia in 2022
How do you benefit from being a member?
Being a member of the FAAA provides every flight attendant with peace-of-mind as it is comparable to insurance for your job. You wouldn’t drive your car uninsured – why should you risk your flying career by not being a member?
Other protections you receive from being a member are automatically provided through federal legislation, known as the Fair Work Act. You have the right to belong to a union, to take part in any kind of industrial activity, to not be coerced or forced to use a workplace right, and to not be under any kind of undue influence or pressure – such as entering into an agreement around your working conditions.
Other significant protections which the FAAA excel at include advice on the various state-based Workplace Health and Safety laws – vital for a safety focussed industry like ours. We can provide information and advice on setting up workplace health and safety committees, fatigue committees, and joint consultative committees to ensure Australian cabin crew can return home safe to their homes at the end of their duty.
Other member benefits
• Industrial support for each individual member of the FAAA
• Advice and information relevant for you at your airline especially around your working conditions, and responsibilities
• Enterprise bargaining – to negotiate better wages and conditions for you and your colleagues
• A 24 hour / 7 day a week emergency phone number to assist you with urgent duty queries wherever you may be in the world
• Discounts at a massive range of retailers, restaurants, hotels, car hire companies, insurers, service providers and many more through UnionShopper
How much does it cost?
Fees are $14 per fortnight, or $30.33 a month and fully tax deductable.
What is our plan for Bonza members?
The FAAA has a plan for our Bonza members – but we’d love to hear from you about what can make working at Bonza the best workplace you’ve ever had.
• Increased pay and conditions through negotiation of an enterprise bargaining agreement
• Flexible working arrangements including part time working opportunities
• Establishment of a crew led fatigue committee
• Establishment of a consultative committee, so crew can have a seat at the table with management
The FAAA would love to hear from you about what you love, and your ideas on what can be improved at Bonza. Please contact us in the office on [email protected] or 02 8337 1111.