Jetstar 787 AWAs...Beware a Labor Govt
Interesting article on the front page of today's (17/5) Australian. Some selective quotes:
"Labor is aware the Senate will remain in Coalition hands until at least June 30 next year, and this would provide a window for businesses to increase coverage of AWA's for some months after the election of a Rudd government...Labor wants to abolish all AWA's. But the Opposition Leader made it clear that Labour would produce a transitional document to cover the shift from John Howard's Work Choices regime...There is a renewed campaign within the Opposition to allow workers with less bargaining power than those in the mining sector to cancel their AWA's as soon as practicable after the election...The dual track policy is being designed to stop employers "ripping off" workers in the twighlight zone between the Coalition and Labor systems."
So what does this mean for pilots "headhunted" to kickstart the 787 operation if Labor is elected at the looming federal election. At best it means you may be able to stick with your AWA until the end of its term. At worst it means you could find your AWA rendered worthless after a stipulated cutoff date. Either way you would eventually revert to working under the Jetstar Certified Agreement. Goodbye AWA, heeelllloooo seniority, with not much sympathy from existing Jetstar pilots. By the middle of next year Jetstar will have around 500 crew. How to turn a 787 Captain into a 787 "Cruise FO" in one simple step.
Of course all of the above presupposes a Labor victory, and what are the odds of that???
Latest opinion polls have Labor 59% Coalition 41% on a two party preferred basis.
Hmmmm....