"I think it is unfair for the union to decide that AO are not initial trainees for the purposes of the arguement. What is an initial trainee?"
Is it the union, or QF, who make that determination? Who employs who after all, ditz? True, it would be better if they were considered initial trainees, but like most things QF, the goal posts are moved to suit the situation (so much for consistency!)
On the basis that subsidiary crew under CP have to attend a full training course, vs AO crew doing a conversion, you could make the argument that we should also only do a conversion course. If AO crew can do it in 7 days, then why not subsidiary crew...add a few more days to cover the minimums, and you have quite a saving over the entire 5-6 week initial course CP crew need to attend. Wasn't the service training simply a take home DVD??
