Rumour: Sunstate Engineers suspended over aircraft sabotage?
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bexley
Posts: 1,792
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The six have all been advised that they are to attend meetings between Mon and Wed next week. Its unclear what the purpose of the meeting is. It may be to further interview them or hand down their verdicts.
ALAEA Fed. Sec, I assume there will be a union representative in attendance and that notes or a recording will be made? Sadly, the only reason for scheduled individual meetings is termination, or an attempt via a "show cause" process to produce self incrimination leading to the same outcome.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bexley
Posts: 1,792
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes they will have the appropriate level of representation.
The following motion was passed by ACTU Executive in support.
The following motion was passed by ACTU Executive in support.
executive resolution Wednesday, 1 December 2010
Aviation Industry Support Executive notes that Australian Pilot and union delegate Joe Eakins and six Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers employed by Qantas Group companies have recently been dismissed or stood down from duty for raising safety issues on Qantas Group aircraft and activity undertaken as a union delegate. Additionally Qantas is currently seeking damages of up to $4.5 million dollars from nine individual TWU Officials for assisting baggage handlers who objected to working with labour hire employees who had not been given the appropriate AFP/ASIO clearances to work on Australian Airports.
The ACTU is concerned about any punitive action against Australian Aviation workers where they raise legitimate safety and security matters in the Aviation Industry, or because of their important responsibility as a union delegate. Executive resolves to support the Aviation unions in their endeavours to support the rights of workers to raise safety issues, and in particular the right of delegates to actively represent the concerns of members.
Australian unions want a safe, productive and secure aviation industry, and will continue to oppose actions that put airports, aircraft, lives and a billion dollar tourism industry at risk. The ACTU will consult with aviation unions to develop a collective response to these issues.
Aviation Industry Support Executive notes that Australian Pilot and union delegate Joe Eakins and six Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers employed by Qantas Group companies have recently been dismissed or stood down from duty for raising safety issues on Qantas Group aircraft and activity undertaken as a union delegate. Additionally Qantas is currently seeking damages of up to $4.5 million dollars from nine individual TWU Officials for assisting baggage handlers who objected to working with labour hire employees who had not been given the appropriate AFP/ASIO clearances to work on Australian Airports.
The ACTU is concerned about any punitive action against Australian Aviation workers where they raise legitimate safety and security matters in the Aviation Industry, or because of their important responsibility as a union delegate. Executive resolves to support the Aviation unions in their endeavours to support the rights of workers to raise safety issues, and in particular the right of delegates to actively represent the concerns of members.
Australian unions want a safe, productive and secure aviation industry, and will continue to oppose actions that put airports, aircraft, lives and a billion dollar tourism industry at risk. The ACTU will consult with aviation unions to develop a collective response to these issues.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Brisbane
Age: 77
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This just gets worse and worse, if possible. 
I cannot believe that the Industry in Australia has sunk this low.
I was always so proud to be a part of the Industry for some 40 odd years, now I am glad I am retired.
Good luck to all involved in these digusting and UN AUSTRALIAN disputes with the Spi**t of Australia.
I cannot believe that the Industry in Australia has sunk this low.
I was always so proud to be a part of the Industry for some 40 odd years, now I am glad I am retired.
Good luck to all involved in these digusting and UN AUSTRALIAN disputes with the Spi**t of Australia.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Brisbane
Age: 77
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Steve,
Is there any further news yet on this disgusting un Australian treatment of these LAMEs by Qantas.
How did the meetings go?
I just cannot believe this can possibly happen in Australia, especially at a place like Qantas.
Also of course these LAMEs were doing their job as basically Representatives of CASA, Licenced by CASA, where does CASA stand in all this shocking business?
Why aren't CASA backing them?
Is there any further news yet on this disgusting un Australian treatment of these LAMEs by Qantas.
How did the meetings go?
I just cannot believe this can possibly happen in Australia, especially at a place like Qantas.
Also of course these LAMEs were doing their job as basically Representatives of CASA, Licenced by CASA, where does CASA stand in all this shocking business?
Why aren't CASA backing them?
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bexley
Posts: 1,792
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mate in my opinion CASA are an arm of the Qantas IR office. We have advised them of about a dozen non compliances at Sunstate in the last 3 weeks and what have we heard? SFA.
The blokes had interviews but I am not sure what happened in there. They are still stood down atm. I advised them all beforehand not to answer anything verbally, must be done in writing and I am assuming they are going through that process.
Looks like they will be off for Christmas. It would be nice if the Qantas group could stand down all LAMEs who snag a defect for the festive season but apparently they can only afford to have 6 guys off. So as it stands, they think they can selectively stand down LAMEs who snag aircraft, no coincidence it is 6 of the 24 guys who currently have Protected Industrial Action bans on overtime.
The blokes had interviews but I am not sure what happened in there. They are still stood down atm. I advised them all beforehand not to answer anything verbally, must be done in writing and I am assuming they are going through that process.
Looks like they will be off for Christmas. It would be nice if the Qantas group could stand down all LAMEs who snag a defect for the festive season but apparently they can only afford to have 6 guys off. So as it stands, they think they can selectively stand down LAMEs who snag aircraft, no coincidence it is 6 of the 24 guys who currently have Protected Industrial Action bans on overtime.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Brisbane
Age: 77
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks again for the news on this situation, PLEASE keep it coming when you have any further news, I am sure everyone here is as disgusted as I am by this.
Sadly it probably will not help, but I just sent an email to CASA Licencing and CASA Complaints asking why CASA is NOT supporting LAMEs Licenced by them who are just doing what they are supposed to do.
Not expecting an answer, but you never know.
Sadly it probably will not help, but I just sent an email to CASA Licencing and CASA Complaints asking why CASA is NOT supporting LAMEs Licenced by them who are just doing what they are supposed to do.
Not expecting an answer, but you never know.
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Australia
Age: 65
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On going dispute
I am only new here but have been in aviation for over 35 years. It was once an awesome career, the pay was good, the conditions excellent. The managers started on the floor and worked up, grew with the airline. Knew what happened at each level, these days you have the over educated uni grad chasing the dollar, trim it here trim it there, why do we have to stock all these spares. Why do we need all these people, buy more aircraft, shift more people, make more money, bigger bonus for me.
From what I know of Qantaslink they have stood down approx 1/4 of their licensed engineers. Does this not add undue pressure on the remaining ? Won't this effect their ability to perform normal duties. From what has been posted so far these guys are losing money from their wages months after the fact. Don't management raise issues with performance immediately or do they have to think about it for awhile. This would appear to be the non productive area.
From what I know of Qantaslink they have stood down approx 1/4 of their licensed engineers. Does this not add undue pressure on the remaining ? Won't this effect their ability to perform normal duties. From what has been posted so far these guys are losing money from their wages months after the fact. Don't management raise issues with performance immediately or do they have to think about it for awhile. This would appear to be the non productive area.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Brisbane
Age: 77
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well I did make email contact with numerous people at CASA, and received quiet a few replies.
Odd thing was though every reply I got, including one from the CEO of CASA, mentioned the industrial trouble at Sunstate (which I didn't ask about), but none of them addressed my safety concerns.
I was also advised not to believe anything I see here on PPRuNe.
Anyway I got back to the CEO and asked what I thought was a simple thing, IF there are NO safety concerns his assurance that there wasn't any, and he declined.
This fact alone makes me feel, as would anyone else I think, that there is indeed something to hide.
Does anyone here have any actual first hand knowledge of these safety breaches, IF in fact they exist?
Odd thing was though every reply I got, including one from the CEO of CASA, mentioned the industrial trouble at Sunstate (which I didn't ask about), but none of them addressed my safety concerns.
I was also advised not to believe anything I see here on PPRuNe.
Anyway I got back to the CEO and asked what I thought was a simple thing, IF there are NO safety concerns his assurance that there wasn't any, and he declined.
This fact alone makes me feel, as would anyone else I think, that there is indeed something to hide.
Does anyone here have any actual first hand knowledge of these safety breaches, IF in fact they exist?
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bexley
Posts: 1,792
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AS - I am very alarmed that you have written to CASA about a safety concern and they just reply to say it is an Industrial issue. I would like to review the corro if possible because it sounds a bit fishy. Please email me at [email protected] and I will send you some more detailed info as well.
cheers
Steve P
cheers
Steve P
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Age: 69
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
arnold are you sent here to try our patience. Really, read both the quotes below and work it out for yourself:
or
just a little bit of difference in the context
I am very alarmed that you have written to CASA about a safety concern
I am very alarmed that you have written to CASA about a safety concern and they just reply to say it is an Industrial issue