QF Engineer bans take effect
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QF Engineer bans take effect
No doubt we have all heard in recent months that QANTAS LAME's have been involved in various types of 'Industrial' activities in response to QF's No Engineer Transits on QF domestic operations and the lack of respect shown in their latest EBA offer.
After 2 months of somewhat uncoordinated action, QF is in a very compromised position. I'm sure all the QF domestic Flight Crews will attest, the number of deferred defects in the log books at the moment is becoming a concern....and not just for you guys!
Sources have stated that in the very near future, Operations will be denied the use of aircraft due to the inability of ETOMS departments to keep up with the scheduled maintenance on these aircraft.
The lack of manpower and reliance on the O/T carried out by ETOMS staff has been highlighted in recent times by Engineers being unable to carry out the extra duties. The result has been the increase in backlogged work and delays due to maintenance related issues.
Coming up to Easter, Enigneers are being more prudent than ever. Inspections carried out by Engineers will ensure safe operation of the aircraft with all defects noted in the appropriate paperwork, as is required in the Policies manual.
And to top all this off, QF Line Maintenance Australia manager was taken to hospital on Saturday night with an undisclosed 'Stomach' problem (Ulcer?!). I'm sure all LAME's hope BD has a speedy recovery.
Happy Easter to all
After 2 months of somewhat uncoordinated action, QF is in a very compromised position. I'm sure all the QF domestic Flight Crews will attest, the number of deferred defects in the log books at the moment is becoming a concern....and not just for you guys!
Sources have stated that in the very near future, Operations will be denied the use of aircraft due to the inability of ETOMS departments to keep up with the scheduled maintenance on these aircraft.
The lack of manpower and reliance on the O/T carried out by ETOMS staff has been highlighted in recent times by Engineers being unable to carry out the extra duties. The result has been the increase in backlogged work and delays due to maintenance related issues.
Coming up to Easter, Enigneers are being more prudent than ever. Inspections carried out by Engineers will ensure safe operation of the aircraft with all defects noted in the appropriate paperwork, as is required in the Policies manual.
And to top all this off, QF Line Maintenance Australia manager was taken to hospital on Saturday night with an undisclosed 'Stomach' problem (Ulcer?!). I'm sure all LAME's hope BD has a speedy recovery.
Happy Easter to all
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SOBB - can you detail any of these dalays or problems for us? How many hold items are the aircraft carrying?
My mate was on an aircraft the other night, Qf 039 to Akl, and he had requested that a loadable container be removed due to extensive damage that must have been outside manual limits. He was asked by the ramp co-ordinator to turn a blind eye to the damage because there were no spare containers in Melbourne. Now as we know, Qf LAMEs have built an unbeatable reputation as being the safest in the world and to turn a blind eye to an airworthiness item is not in our nature. Subsequently the can was rejected and the aircraft delayed 1 hr until a servicable can arrived from another aircraft. Do you recommend that we do as we are told and "turn a blind eye" to airworthiness items or should we strive to retain the reputation we have built over the last 80 years?
My mate was on an aircraft the other night, Qf 039 to Akl, and he had requested that a loadable container be removed due to extensive damage that must have been outside manual limits. He was asked by the ramp co-ordinator to turn a blind eye to the damage because there were no spare containers in Melbourne. Now as we know, Qf LAMEs have built an unbeatable reputation as being the safest in the world and to turn a blind eye to an airworthiness item is not in our nature. Subsequently the can was rejected and the aircraft delayed 1 hr until a servicable can arrived from another aircraft. Do you recommend that we do as we are told and "turn a blind eye" to airworthiness items or should we strive to retain the reputation we have built over the last 80 years?
Nunc est bibendum
C'mon lads, it's called a 'safety observation report' and I KNOW that E&M have a similar system. If someone is telling you to turn a blind eye, do the paperwork!!
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I believe Qf are considering adopting a system of tech log recording similar to that used by BA. This would place hold items into two categories, Airworthiness and non- airworthiness, it also will accomodate the increase in the number of hold items currently accumulating.
QF management training :- "Don't fix the problem manage it"
QF management training :- "Don't fix the problem manage it"
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Goatrider, all you can do is follow procedures as our esteemed managers have been extolling recently.
I wouldn't expect a pilot to accept a defect outside the limits of the DDG/MEL's any sooner than I would expect a LAME to turn a blind eye!!!!
I wouldn't expect a pilot to accept a defect outside the limits of the DDG/MEL's any sooner than I would expect a LAME to turn a blind eye!!!!
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I suppose the best way to look at it is....Its your licence....Its your job....Its your EBA....Its your future.
Being asked to bend the rules is becoming more common place. Threats of losing courses, losing contracts, changing of workplace agreements and singling out of individuals are all taking place due to the current stand by Engineers not to just 'turn a blind eye'!
For years now Engineers have just made the system 'work'. Whilst delaying aircraft is far from the intent of LAME's normally, if its the only language management will understand....
Being asked to bend the rules is becoming more common place. Threats of losing courses, losing contracts, changing of workplace agreements and singling out of individuals are all taking place due to the current stand by Engineers not to just 'turn a blind eye'!
For years now Engineers have just made the system 'work'. Whilst delaying aircraft is far from the intent of LAME's normally, if its the only language management will understand....
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And it begins....
Yesterday VH-VXQ was taken out of service due to mounting outstanding work. The aircraft will have a minimum 5 day layover in an effort to catch up on deferred work.
But of course there's no use taking an aircraft out of service if there's no one to do the work. And so the aircraft sat on the fence 14 hours before anyone even considered towing it into the hangar.
Bans in place are continuing to take effect. Numbers of Hold items are on the increase, and scheduled work is falling behind.
Maintain the Rage.
Yesterday VH-VXQ was taken out of service due to mounting outstanding work. The aircraft will have a minimum 5 day layover in an effort to catch up on deferred work.
But of course there's no use taking an aircraft out of service if there's no one to do the work. And so the aircraft sat on the fence 14 hours before anyone even considered towing it into the hangar.
Bans in place are continuing to take effect. Numbers of Hold items are on the increase, and scheduled work is falling behind.
Maintain the Rage.
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So help me out here please ????
Now that the overtime bans have been made official and the union understands the consequence when it goes to the commissioner and he rules that the ban is illegal, do we then revert to the unofficial ban again.
Or does the company award a 10% pay rise to all engineering staff to agree to a substantial amount of overtime be worked??
Without it being written into the award in some form then there will never be any resolution, and the aircraft will just grind to a stand still.
Now that the overtime bans have been made official and the union understands the consequence when it goes to the commissioner and he rules that the ban is illegal, do we then revert to the unofficial ban again.
Or does the company award a 10% pay rise to all engineering staff to agree to a substantial amount of overtime be worked??
Without it being written into the award in some form then there will never be any resolution, and the aircraft will just grind to a stand still.
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Be very careful about "agreeing to overtime" in your EBA, as this will make it harder to take action NEXT time you feel you are getting screwed on your EBA.
IE: It may work this time, and force management's hand, and you'll get your 10% (or whatever), but in 3 years when your EBA is up for re-negotiation, and they stick you AGAIN... what recourse do you have ? You cannot do an overtime ban, 'cos you all agreed this time that you WOULD work a reasonable amount! hence it WOULD be illegal, and you would NOT be honouring your end of the agreement.
Hope all ends well... and safely
IE: It may work this time, and force management's hand, and you'll get your 10% (or whatever), but in 3 years when your EBA is up for re-negotiation, and they stick you AGAIN... what recourse do you have ? You cannot do an overtime ban, 'cos you all agreed this time that you WOULD work a reasonable amount! hence it WOULD be illegal, and you would NOT be honouring your end of the agreement.
Hope all ends well... and safely
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We are already expected to work a "reasonable" amount of overtime in our current agreement(I don't know how much is reasonable??It hasn't been defined).
The bans are legal because we are in a protected bargaining period and all the protocols have been followed.
The company has offered 0 % pay increase and want clauses to include
1 more part time work
2 transmission of business clause (which effectively allows them to sell off engineering and if it goes bust-or they can find a chinaman to do it cheaper, there will be no rudundancies/entitlements for QF to pay)
3 OT banking
They have left us no option but to carry out work bans
The bans are legal because we are in a protected bargaining period and all the protocols have been followed.
The company has offered 0 % pay increase and want clauses to include
1 more part time work
2 transmission of business clause (which effectively allows them to sell off engineering and if it goes bust-or they can find a chinaman to do it cheaper, there will be no rudundancies/entitlements for QF to pay)
3 OT banking
They have left us no option but to carry out work bans
Last edited by numbskull; 31st Mar 2005 at 22:16.
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Well I hope you win. I think its discusting that the bosses give themselves a 60% pay rise and screw the workers. I think if they were intelligent boss's they would know if the workers were happy they would work harder and make the company more money.
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numbskull
I think you'll find that the reasonable amount of O/T you speak of is in NO agreement or award.
Aparrently it stems from previous 'gentlemens' agreements from yesteryear.
Given the absence of any 'gentlemen' in QF management anymore, I think we're pretty safe!
Maintain the Rage
I think you'll find that the reasonable amount of O/T you speak of is in NO agreement or award.
Aparrently it stems from previous 'gentlemens' agreements from yesteryear.
Given the absence of any 'gentlemen' in QF management anymore, I think we're pretty safe!
Maintain the Rage
