chockchucker
17th Nov 2006, 04:05
Qantas maintenance decision soon
Steve Creedy
17nov06
QANTAS has finished a review of its narrow-body maintenance at Melbourne Airport and expects to announce in the next two weeks whether it will move the operations.
The airline has been conducting the review since its March decision to move wide-body heavy maintenance out of Sydney and had originally flagged a decision by September.
It subsequently delayed an announcement until this week but recently told workers it would be further delayed.
A Qantas spokeswoman confirmed the review had been completed and an announcement would be made "in the next couple of weeks".
Executives earlier this year said the work would not be moved offshore but they were unable to rule out moving it to Avalon, near Geelong, or to Brisbane.
But workers in Melbourne say morale has hit "rock bottom" after the latest delay.
Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association federal secretary Steve Purvinas said members were badly affected by the uncertainty and it was remarkable they had still processed 50 consecutive aircraft on time. "Our members down there are concerned about their future and this seems to be a tactic adopted by the airline," he said.
Mr Purvinas said the union was not aware of any facility in the Asia-Pacific that could outperform Melbourne.
"One of the options that has been discussed is the Avalon maintenance facility but they've been having no end of trouble getting some 737 freighter conversions out on time," he said.
"And members from Melbourne have been down to assist with the last four or so checks they've done there on 737 aircraft because they can't cope with the work."
The fact that management have deferred this decision three times now just shows the complete contempt with which they hold their workforce.
Good luck all the guys and gals at Tulla.
Steve Creedy
17nov06
QANTAS has finished a review of its narrow-body maintenance at Melbourne Airport and expects to announce in the next two weeks whether it will move the operations.
The airline has been conducting the review since its March decision to move wide-body heavy maintenance out of Sydney and had originally flagged a decision by September.
It subsequently delayed an announcement until this week but recently told workers it would be further delayed.
A Qantas spokeswoman confirmed the review had been completed and an announcement would be made "in the next couple of weeks".
Executives earlier this year said the work would not be moved offshore but they were unable to rule out moving it to Avalon, near Geelong, or to Brisbane.
But workers in Melbourne say morale has hit "rock bottom" after the latest delay.
Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association federal secretary Steve Purvinas said members were badly affected by the uncertainty and it was remarkable they had still processed 50 consecutive aircraft on time. "Our members down there are concerned about their future and this seems to be a tactic adopted by the airline," he said.
Mr Purvinas said the union was not aware of any facility in the Asia-Pacific that could outperform Melbourne.
"One of the options that has been discussed is the Avalon maintenance facility but they've been having no end of trouble getting some 737 freighter conversions out on time," he said.
"And members from Melbourne have been down to assist with the last four or so checks they've done there on 737 aircraft because they can't cope with the work."
The fact that management have deferred this decision three times now just shows the complete contempt with which they hold their workforce.
Good luck all the guys and gals at Tulla.