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.
If you are on a AWA your employer can do what they like as long as the "basic conditions" of an award are met. Your example of a demotion could happen legally and easily with an individual AWA "for comercial reasons"
Unless you are part of a collective that stand together over T&Cs it does not matter which party is in controlof the Federal Govt.