Australian skydivers across three states have initiated a strike as prolonged pay negotiations with their employer, Experience Co, remain unresolved. The industrial action commenced on Friday, impacting eight sites in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Skydiving instructors, represented by the Australian Workers’ Union, have rejected multiple pay offers, arguing that the proposals would degrade their roles to gig work status.
Experience Co, a major player in the tourism industry, claims its offers would position their employees among the highest-paid in the sector. However, union representatives argue that the proposed terms fail to address longstanding wage stagnation and could jeopardize safety standards.
Union Concerns Over Safety and Pay
Jonathan Cook, the national organiser for the Australian Workers’ Union, emphasized the critical nature of the instructors’ roles. “Tandem skydiving instructors literally take people’s lives in their hands every time they go to work,” he stated, highlighting the potential risks associated with inadequate compensation. Cook questioned the implications for customers, asking, “Would you want your mum strapped to an underpaid instructor?”
The union has pointed out that the majority of Experience Co’s skydivers have not seen significant base wage increases for decades. The current strike marks the first time skydiving instructors in Australia have taken such action, following ten months of stalled negotiations aimed at establishing a first-ever enterprise agreement.
Company’s Response and Ongoing Negotiations
Experience Co’s chief executive, John O’Sullivan, has criticized the union’s approach, attributing the disruption to “militant union bosses” and urging a reconsideration of what he termed “unreasonable and irresponsible industrial action.” O’Sullivan expressed confusion over the strike, citing the company’s “strong” offers during negotiations with its 129 skydivers.
Since bringing skydivers in-house in 2022, Experience Co has linked compensation to productivity bonuses, a system the union claims the company intends to dismantle. The union alleges that under the new proposals, instructors would earn base salaries of approximately $50,000, with some workers facing potential pay cuts of up to $100,000.
“We call upon the union to reconsider its unreasonable and irresponsible industrial action,” said John O’Sullivan, CEO of Experience Co.
Impact on the Skydiving Season and Customer Experience
The strike coincides with one of the busiest periods in the skydiving calendar, potentially affecting numerous customers who have booked experiences as gifts or personal adventures. Experience Co has assured affected customers that they will be contacted directly and offered alternative options or full refunds.
O’Sullivan defended the company’s position, describing Skydive Australia as a small business that predominantly employs young people in regional areas. He argued that the union’s demands would impose unsustainable costs on the business.
“Skydive Australia is effectively a small business that proudly employs mostly young people in regional Australia,” O’Sullivan stated.
Looking Forward: Potential Resolutions and Industry Implications
The outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for pay and safety standards within the skydiving industry in Australia. As negotiations continue, both sides remain at an impasse, with the union advocating for fair compensation and the company emphasizing financial viability.
Industry experts suggest that a resolution will require compromise from both parties, with potential implications for how adventure tourism businesses structure employee contracts and compensation packages. The situation remains fluid, with stakeholders closely monitoring developments.
As the strike progresses, the focus remains on balancing employee welfare with business sustainability, a challenge that extends beyond the skydiving sector to the broader tourism industry.
