We had a further meeting today with Qantas to discuss recent announcements that will most likely lead to redundancies. We made it clear that we did not want to discuss any selection criteria that could apply should compulsory redundancies be needed. We requested that Qantas not release any criteria or drive any speculation on how CR could be selected.
For us the most important goal is to ensure that there are no forced redundancies. In order for that to occur there is a requirement for Qantas to take steps to obviate (avoid) this need or mitigate (reduce) the effect of any redundancy program. The primary method to do this is for people to select transfers to locations where there are jobs. We are concerned that a known criteria may reduce the pool of people who are prepared to move and force others out the door.
Discussions today about selection processes would also send a message that CR is unavoidable and consume valuable time arguing about something we are trying to avoid. If CR becomes inevitable we will debate Qantas about it at that point in time.
We have advised Qantas that they can release any employee who has requested to leave voluntarily at their leisure. We have also told them they can commence the process to move those persons who have selected a move to one of the three ports where jobs are available as a first preference now. EOIs at this stage are planned to end on 2nd April 2014, members who would like to change their selected preference can do so up until that date.
At this stage there are 10 LAME vacancies in Perth, 7 in Brisbane LMO, 2 in Brisbane Base and 3 in Darwin. There are also still 17 LAMEs from Avalon seeking employment somewhere within the system who add to the 175 announced during this round (total 192). VRs to date number 56 plus an outstanding number of 17 from an earlier Avalon EOI process (total 73). A breakdown per section is as follows –
Mel Line - 58 to go, 28 VRs, outstanding 30.
Adl Line – 13 to go, 5 VRs, outstanding 8.
Bne Line – 12 to go, 19 VRs, 7 vacancies.
CE Syd – 9 to go, 1 VR, outstanding 8.
SDT – 24 to go, 2 VR, 22 outstanding.
SAM Syd – 34 to go, 9 VRs, 25 outstanding.
Per Line – none to go, 10 vacancies.
Drw Line – none to go, 3 vacancies.
Bne Base – none to go, 2 vacancies.
SIT – 25 to go, no VRs, 25 outstanding.
I think a few more may emerge from the woodwork...