Originally Posted by
C441
There's a reason for that. Both the EA and FW have quite non-specific phraseology with regard to stand-down. In effect they state that a company can leave staff stood-down whilst there is no work for those staff perform for circumstances beyond the company's control. Depending upon your point of view this can mean, in the Qantas Longhaul case, that staff can be stood-down until the first regular scheduled international service is planned through to until such time as any specific fleet has sufficient flying to stand-up all of the crew. The Pilots would prefer the former, the company the latter and any number of interpretations in between.
It's hardly surprising then that there is disagreement amongst the group (and a few not affected) as to how long Qantas can keep crew stood-down.
The legislation makes no reference for how long. So it can be interpreted anyway you like, that doesn't mean it will be so.
When the legislation was written it was never envisaged that it would be needed for more than a few weeks or all that many impacted. Essentially it's a vehicle by which a company can impose upon you use of leave entitlements without having applied for leave. In many companies they do that anyway these days, for example the christmas shutdown period. All employees are on annual leave that week whether you want to be or not. A draft amendment to that would be in the works, expect that around the end of jobkeeper. Your workplace agreement does not supersede any state or federal legislation. You'll find that in the preamble in the opening statements.