24 July 2006 ID40-06
Attention All Qantas Long Haul Flight Attendants
AGREEMENT REACHED OVER BONAVENTURE HOTEL AND LAX ALLOWANCES
Cabin crew will be aware that the FAAA has been in dispute with Qantas over safety related concerns associated with the Bonaventure hotel in Los Angeles. The FAAA and AIPA (Australian and International Pilots Association) have also been in dispute over the meal allowance rate for Los Angeles.
We are pleased to report that Qantas and the FAAA, with the assistance of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) have reached a negotiated “package” agreement that resolves both disputes.
BONAVENTURE ISSUE
BACKGROUND
The primary reason why the FAAA listed a dispute in the AIRC was because we were receiving reports from members, particularly from women, about personal safety concerns. There were also several incidents which the FAAA viewed as serious.
We listed the dispute in the AIRC, but as members would be aware from previous newsletters, the AIRC was not prepared to issue an order requiring Qantas to move crew from this hotel. Rather, the AIRC requested that a four month review period occur and that the situation regarding safety be monitored.
In the intervening period, the level of adverse communication from crew to the FAAA about the hotel has fallen off dramatically.
AGREEMENT
1) Qantas will facilitate and support an inspection process of crew hotels by the FAAA.
2) Qantas will commit to take all reasonable steps to ensure that rooms will be allocated to cabin crew in a priority and manner that will mitigate the impact of noise in cabin crew rooms.
3) In recognition of issues of safety in respect of the surrounding area, a free shuttle bus service of up to 16 return trips per week to Pasadena will be introduced by Qantas. Qantas long haul cabin crew on slip in LA will have priority on-load for the shuttle service. The buses will only be available to Qantas employees due to insurance implications.
LA MEAL ALLOWANCE ISSUE
BACKGROUND
Each year a review is conducted of meal allowances paid in slip ports. The FAAA, AIPA and Qantas jointly undertake this review. The review that commenced in October 2005 resulted in disagreement over several ports but in particular the major disagreement was over LA.
The FAAA subsequently listed a dispute about this issue in the AIRC. The AIRC held a conference between the parties and asked that further discussions occur between the parties in an attempt to resolve the issue. The FAAA advised Qantas it wanted a package approach to both the Bonaventure hotel issue and the LAX allowance issue.
AGREEMENT
1) The LA allowance will be increased from US$101.40 per day to US$108 per day, an almost 7% increase.
2) There will be a retrospective adjustment to LA meal allowances from 1 November 2005. Crew who have done LA patterns will receive a retrospective increase to patterns flown since 1 November 2005.
3) For the annual review later this year, the new US$108 rate will be adjusted in line with the inflation figure for the LA- Riverside-Orange County Food Away From Home index.
CONCLUSION
All of you would be aware of the difficult circumstances that are confronting us, both in general industrial terms arising from the new industrial laws and specifically, from the pressure emanating from the fuel price issue, which in turn is driving Qantas to identify savings on a broad scale
In view of the current environment, the FAAA is happy with the negotiated outcome on both issues, particularly in the context that we find ourselves in as Long Haul cabin crew.
Written and authorised by Michael Mijatov – Secretary International Division.