AEROMEDIC
Just to repeat myself.
This is a cyclic event and will pass (with pain) like a kidney stone.
Re-hiring WILL begin in 2-3 years when they realize that they have "lost " too many in the redundancy program.
They won't be rehiring. Not the numbers they've lost. For every 747 that departs QANTAS for the last time, is a number of engineers they don't need anymore, as the aircraft are not being replaced. For every 767 that leaves QANTAS for the last time, is another lot of engineers they don't need anymore, as those aircraft are not being replaced.
This is a bit more than just another aviation cyclic event. This is not an up and down cycle of people flying or not flying. This is a downsizing of the airline by getting rid of aircraft and leaving an "excess" of engineers and other staff in their wake, justifying the powers that be to make people redundant.
Cop it sweet for now and park yourselves in a money earning job. If you don't want to return or you have discovered that there IS life after Qantas, then that's your good fortune.
The only downside I see in the process is that these tossers will claim that there is not enough qualified people around, and 457 visa's will materialize quickly.
Good luck to all.
Those that have decided to park themsleves in a money earning job have done so, but still await the farcical "negotiations" between the company and unions to come up with a decision as to what is happening and the numbers. The negotiations seem to be as long and miserable as the federal election campaign we have to put up with for the next six months. All talk and nothing to show for it.
Also AEROMEDIC, if this cycle is as cyclic as you say it is, why are we engineers being inundated with job opportunities outside of QANTAS by both the ALAEA and QANTAS?
It seems that the less being said by both sides, the worse the outcome is going to be for the ones who will cop it in the neck in the end.