Qf 747 offshored again
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Qf 747 offshored again
As Federal Secretary of the ALAEA it is sometimes difficult to keep up with the day to day ins and outs of every discussion that takes place. I was informed today that ALAEA Officials attended a Heavy Maintenance outsourcing meeting earlier in the week and were informed that a number of Qantas aircraft could no longer fit into the onshore maintenance program. Of particular note was the intended offshoring of three 747-400 D checks. After a few seconds of contemplation I was suddenly hit with the realisation that Qantas managers had completely dishonoured an Agreement recently made with Forstaff Avalon employees about the future workload in their facility.
In December 2010, Forstaff and Qantas management approached the ALAEA, AMWU and AWU seeking urgent discussions on a new wage Agreement for Forstaff employees. The discussions were to be held six months prior to the Agreement expiry on the basis that a positive vote from the workforce would see a major 747-400 reconfiguration program awarded to the facility. We reluctantly took part in the discussions that ultimately led to a very average Agreement being placed before the workforce. The Agreement was accepted by the majority six weeks after negotiations began along with the commitment for the reconfig work.
The ALAEA were conscious all along that Qantas did not want this work carried out in Australia. We suspect there was an expectation that the ALAEA would oppose the offer, the vote would go down and our Association would be blamed for taking an unreasonable position that led to the loss of Australian jobs. We took a neutral stance during the vote for this reason and the approved Agreement meant that Qantas had locked themselves into a commitment they never intended to keep.
As the reconfigs were locked in by the new Agreement, Qantas have now announced that they will ditch the other work carried out by Avalon Qantas and Forstaff employees. 747 D checks. To say our trust in Qantas management is somewhat diminished would be an understatement. This underhanded move serves as a reminder that the Qantas wage negotiations currently underway are critical for the future of all members working for the airline. Locking in binding job security clauses that are enforceable in courtrooms is our number one priority and a must when we consider final settlement of any offer.
In December 2010, Forstaff and Qantas management approached the ALAEA, AMWU and AWU seeking urgent discussions on a new wage Agreement for Forstaff employees. The discussions were to be held six months prior to the Agreement expiry on the basis that a positive vote from the workforce would see a major 747-400 reconfiguration program awarded to the facility. We reluctantly took part in the discussions that ultimately led to a very average Agreement being placed before the workforce. The Agreement was accepted by the majority six weeks after negotiations began along with the commitment for the reconfig work.
The ALAEA were conscious all along that Qantas did not want this work carried out in Australia. We suspect there was an expectation that the ALAEA would oppose the offer, the vote would go down and our Association would be blamed for taking an unreasonable position that led to the loss of Australian jobs. We took a neutral stance during the vote for this reason and the approved Agreement meant that Qantas had locked themselves into a commitment they never intended to keep.
As the reconfigs were locked in by the new Agreement, Qantas have now announced that they will ditch the other work carried out by Avalon Qantas and Forstaff employees. 747 D checks. To say our trust in Qantas management is somewhat diminished would be an understatement. This underhanded move serves as a reminder that the Qantas wage negotiations currently underway are critical for the future of all members working for the airline. Locking in binding job security clauses that are enforceable in courtrooms is our number one priority and a must when we consider final settlement of any offer.
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where is Bill Shorten when you need him,last time the 747 work was lost to Avalon from Sydney he was cheering Qf managemants position.Increased membership numbers in Mexico.Looks like the thin end of the wedge has been inserted.
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ALAEA Winning does not look like it where is Wally from the ALAEA he was there at the start of Avalon. Oh ! that's right he now works for Forstaff and the ALAEA have to deal with him.
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Avalon and offshoring are 2 in the same, only difference is which country gets the tax income.
Do you really think the Quality will suffer? I don't think so.
HM should have stayed in Sydney in the first place.
Do you really think the Quality will suffer? I don't think so.
HM should have stayed in Sydney in the first place.
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Are there enough staff at Avalon to Re-configs and "D" checks?
If not, are there enough people sitting on the dole who are qualified to do "D" checks in Australia?
If not, are there enough people sitting on the dole who are qualified to do "D" checks in Australia?
Avalon must bleed money for Qantas. How could it have been financially viable for Qantas that when they shut down SYD HM, Forstaff employed some of the LAMEs on contract at a higher rate of pay plus allowances, plus accomodation, plus transport and flights.
Avalon has always been a poor decision I believe. Not to mention the quality of work from unmotivated contract staff. They don't give a rats @rse because QF don't give a rats about them. And it shows in the end product.
Having said all that I don't want QF to offshore any work because as we have seen with the likes of engines, they have lost all control of the product they get back. I know they send LAMEs with the offshored aircraft but you can't be everywhere all the time.
Maintenance performed by contractor here or overseas is the same. Everyone is in it for a quick dollar and when the sh!t hits the fan the mess has to be picked up by line maintenance having to do secondary rework and cabin crew having to apologise to customers about why the IFE doen't work or why the zone is too hot or why the ceiling panel fell down.
At least when it is done in house by company staff there is a certain level of pride in the work done, even when the company is knifing you during EBA time.
Avalon has always been a poor decision I believe. Not to mention the quality of work from unmotivated contract staff. They don't give a rats @rse because QF don't give a rats about them. And it shows in the end product.
Having said all that I don't want QF to offshore any work because as we have seen with the likes of engines, they have lost all control of the product they get back. I know they send LAMEs with the offshored aircraft but you can't be everywhere all the time.
Maintenance performed by contractor here or overseas is the same. Everyone is in it for a quick dollar and when the sh!t hits the fan the mess has to be picked up by line maintenance having to do secondary rework and cabin crew having to apologise to customers about why the IFE doen't work or why the zone is too hot or why the ceiling panel fell down.
At least when it is done in house by company staff there is a certain level of pride in the work done, even when the company is knifing you during EBA time.
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Are there enough staff at Avalon to Re-configs and "D" checks?
If not, are there enough people sitting on the dole who are qualified to do "D" checks in Australia?
If not, are there enough people sitting on the dole who are qualified to do "D" checks in Australia?
.....all of them shafted when Sydney was closed down. Most of them disgruntled enough NOT to return.
A few greedy people destroyed something that would take decades to replace.
Last edited by BrissySparkyCoit; 22nd Mar 2011 at 10:17.
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Avalon must bleed money for Qantas.
The Qantas LAMEs still worked for Qantas at a higher rate of pay plus allowances, plus accomodation, plus transport and flights so that was a cost to Qantas. Forstaff Lames got none of that.
The Qantas LAMEs still worked for Qantas at a higher rate of pay plus allowances, plus accomodation, plus transport and flights so that was a cost to Qantas. Forstaff Lames got none of that.
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Forstaff are recruiting right now for 737/747 Lames for a 9 month contract. Paid per diems of $110.00 (non taxable) + accomodation + transport + flights (including monthly flights to home base) + paid for all QF fleet relevant licences and slotted into the pay scale grade accordingly + an extra 4 grades jump in the pay scale + annual leave paid out at the end on a pro rata basis.
GB
GB
Cant be that hard to tear a B747 apart can it???
You are right. Putting it back together is the hard bit
You are right. Putting it back together is the hard bit
What's worse.
Running out of bits before you're finished. Or finishing with bits left over!
Jethro that would be why Forstaff employees feel the way they do.
It is no different to the pre and post 96 pay scales in the current system. Rut it must be one hell of a slap in the face for the Avalon guys to have someone waltz in and be on twice the pay from the get go.
It is no different to the pre and post 96 pay scales in the current system. Rut it must be one hell of a slap in the face for the Avalon guys to have someone waltz in and be on twice the pay from the get go.
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I think some people on here are misguided about the pay of forsthaft v QF peolpe. They have a parity clause in the EBA for pay.... Only thing missing is the shirt and staff travel.
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Cant be that hard to tear a B747 apart can it???
You are right. Putting it back together is the hard bit
You are right. Putting it back together is the hard bit
P.S. If you live in AVV, why would you want staff travel?