Merged: QF LAME Industrial Action (KEEP IT CLEAN)
Industrial action is for losers............
thanks, now i have your attention.
Why do we need to take industrial action?
The majority of us don't really need the 3% or 5%........hey.... we seem to have a plethora of LAMEs willing to do overtime!!!!!
The real reason we want to have the action is to stick it up the company because we're FED UP.
Sure we're overdue a payrise, and local and senior management are receiving between 8% and 60% payrises p.a.
Being LAMEs, generally we're a no nonsense bunch,
however we've been taking management on its word for too long.
To give a basic synopsis of the situation......
Qantas management have been playing us.
There seems to be a sentiment within management ranks, that people in offices make an airline work, not people on the front line.
Oh and also......
If you don't hold a degree, well....you're not really that smart are you.....
Too many times we have been told to "suck it up" - "times are dire" - "we're in it for our survival" - "our competitors are streets ahead"
Let me say this.............
"BULL****" and once again if you're hard of hearing..... "BULL****"
Qantas is a protected species
The only thing that would put Qantas's neck on the block would be a Hull loss, with the consequent loss of life and confidence.
Why don't we play it smart,
lets face it, the only thing that affects what our salary is our worth to our employer,
We have a tool at our disposal that would not require industrial action,
yet would enhance our position in the eyes of the travelling public and our worth to our employer.
This tool is diligence combined with intelligence
I propose we begin our "non industrial action" by....
Carrying out maintenance totally in accordance with the PPM / AMM
Transit, SA1, A, C, D, checks could be totally bound up in procedural red tape,
Let us use the Qantas PPM to the letter.
When you approach a Qantas aircraft,
don't ask....will it be ok for the next sector?
instead say....this condition needs further investigation...
and Don't just say it....DO IT.......
Remember..legally we are not required to get the aircraft out on time....only out Safely.
Simple things that are normally overlooked because of time constraints should now be investigated as a matter of course.
We all know there are many things that are let slide due to time constraints, lets pick up our game and make every punch count.
Soaking up manhours.....under the present conditions should be the priority of every LAME.
It could be writing every action or defect requiring attention into the appropriate medium, be it a techlog or an additional work, or a DRR,
It could be ensuring correct tooling is used, not making do with workaround situations.
It could be making sure you get your mealbreak after 5.5 hours not at the end of your shift.
It could be not making yourself available for overtime, whatever the case may be
Soaking up time is what the online techlog was designed to do! Use it!!!!!!
Imagine having a well paid super experienced engineer completing a job well done then assigning him to data entry tasks for an hour or two!!!!!!
These actions will set a standard and establish a minimum line in the sand for us.
It will also allow a framework for the paperwork trail back to the finance department showing the true worth of a Lame, and therefore to the upper management.
Another benefit to us and also the company would be that the aircraft will have greater servicability rates once the initial latent defects are cleared.
These actions.... if carried out by the majority of Lames, would send a strong signal to the "powers that be"
that we are worth a payrise,
that we are not an expendable commodity,
that we are above reproach,
that there is no contingency,
that you cannot walk away from the mess you have made,
That - You will respect us whether you like it or not.
It will be a hard slog if the challenge is taken up,
We will have the usual few who are recalcitrant and self serving, seeing opportunity at the expense of the boys holding the line.
Let's not be dulled by their lack of faith, expose them, do not cover up their transgressions.
It will take a while for it to catch on, however,
If successful, we will initiate a cultural change that will see us to the next EBA and beyond.
Who will Join us????