J* Fined For Imposing Cadet Pilot Training Costs
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J* Fined For Imposing Cadet Pilot Training Costs
Heard on radio 6PR this arvo, that J* has been fined $90K for 'unlawfully deducting part pay' of cadet pilots, for pilot training, in contravention of workplace laws...
GOOD!
Cheers
GOOD!
Cheers
Last edited by Ex FSO GRIFFO; 6th Feb 2014 at 06:51.
From the ABC
Jetstar has been fined $90,000 for making six cadet pilots pay for their own training.
The Federal Court handed down the fine in Sydney after the airline admitted it breached the Fair Work Act when it deducted $17,500 from the wages of the cadets to cover the training.
The pilots, recruited between October 2010 and January 2011, were employed on individual contracts through a New Zealand-based Jetstar subsidiary while they underwent six months of training.
After their employment was transferred to Australian entity Jetstar Group, Jetstar tried to recover training costs from the pilots despite being advised it was unlawful under Australia's Air Pilots Award 2010, Justice Robert Buchanan found.
Jetstar deducted a total of $17,500 from all six pilots' wages, including one pilot who had refused to agree to it.
The money was returned two months later after a legal challenge by the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP).
Justice Buchanan said Jetstar had shown a lack of evidence of contrition or remorse over the events.
"The respondents used their vastly superior bargaining power to effectively brush aside any personal resistance by cadet pilots, not desisting until the AFAP stepped in," he said.
"The conduct of Jetstar Group and Jetstar Airways was calculated solely by reference to their assessment of their own commercial interests."
The Fair Work Ombudsman also has ongoing legal proceedings against Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd over its use of cabin crew employed by Singapore company Valuair Limited and Thai company Tour East (TET) Limited.
The airlines are contesting allegations from the Ombudsman the staff were subject to Australian workplace laws.
The Federal Court handed down the fine in Sydney after the airline admitted it breached the Fair Work Act when it deducted $17,500 from the wages of the cadets to cover the training.
The pilots, recruited between October 2010 and January 2011, were employed on individual contracts through a New Zealand-based Jetstar subsidiary while they underwent six months of training.
After their employment was transferred to Australian entity Jetstar Group, Jetstar tried to recover training costs from the pilots despite being advised it was unlawful under Australia's Air Pilots Award 2010, Justice Robert Buchanan found.
Jetstar deducted a total of $17,500 from all six pilots' wages, including one pilot who had refused to agree to it.
The money was returned two months later after a legal challenge by the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP).
Justice Buchanan said Jetstar had shown a lack of evidence of contrition or remorse over the events.
"The respondents used their vastly superior bargaining power to effectively brush aside any personal resistance by cadet pilots, not desisting until the AFAP stepped in," he said.
"The conduct of Jetstar Group and Jetstar Airways was calculated solely by reference to their assessment of their own commercial interests."
The Fair Work Ombudsman also has ongoing legal proceedings against Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd over its use of cabin crew employed by Singapore company Valuair Limited and Thai company Tour East (TET) Limited.
The airlines are contesting allegations from the Ombudsman the staff were subject to Australian workplace laws.
Ben's short take on this story (with update):Jetstar fined for taking money from cadet pilots
:Jetstar fined for taking money from cadet pilots
*Updated
The Federal Court has fined Jetstar $90,000 for trying to force cadet pilots to pay for their own training and unlawfully deducting part of their wages to enforce it.
The decision is reported here by SBS.
It will reminder readers with long memories of the other Jetstar behaviours that were pulled apart by a Senate committee inquiry into pilot training and safety standards in relation to its attempt to pay cadet pilots NZ wages under NZ conditions for flying in Australia.
Not to mention paying allegedly fatigued Thai based flight attendants less than Australian pay and conditions on domestic services tagged onto Jetstar international flights through Darwin.
When or if Jetstar responds with a statement or indicates if it will appeal the decision this story will be amended accordingly.
*Jetstar’s response:
Today, the Federal Court imposed penalties on Jetstar under the Fair Work Act for admitted breaches relating to the initial rollout of its pilot cadet training program in 2010. The issue was confined to the first group of six cadets, and was rectified in October 2011.
Jetstar Australia and New Zealand CEO David Hall said that while the airline accepted responsibility for these breaches, overall the airline was very proud of the program, which is now in its fifth year.
“More than 100 cadets have participated in the program which has been successful in providing opportunities for Australians to begin their flying careers and allow them to work in other Jetstar branded airlines,” Mr Hall said.
“Jetstar has more than 3000 team members across Australia and we take our responsibilities as an employer of choice seriously.”
The Federal Court has fined Jetstar $90,000 for trying to force cadet pilots to pay for their own training and unlawfully deducting part of their wages to enforce it.
The decision is reported here by SBS.
It will reminder readers with long memories of the other Jetstar behaviours that were pulled apart by a Senate committee inquiry into pilot training and safety standards in relation to its attempt to pay cadet pilots NZ wages under NZ conditions for flying in Australia.
Not to mention paying allegedly fatigued Thai based flight attendants less than Australian pay and conditions on domestic services tagged onto Jetstar international flights through Darwin.
When or if Jetstar responds with a statement or indicates if it will appeal the decision this story will be amended accordingly.
*Jetstar’s response:
Today, the Federal Court imposed penalties on Jetstar under the Fair Work Act for admitted breaches relating to the initial rollout of its pilot cadet training program in 2010. The issue was confined to the first group of six cadets, and was rectified in October 2011.
Jetstar Australia and New Zealand CEO David Hall said that while the airline accepted responsibility for these breaches, overall the airline was very proud of the program, which is now in its fifth year.
“More than 100 cadets have participated in the program which has been successful in providing opportunities for Australians to begin their flying careers and allow them to work in other Jetstar branded airlines,” Mr Hall said.
“Jetstar has more than 3000 team members across Australia and we take our responsibilities as an employer of choice seriously.”
Sadly it will (no doubt) be QF that pays but:
1) That should be a per person fine and
2) I hope it is the start.
Anyone affected by this has my total support and I am appalled that a company I was so proud to get a uniform from has sunk to this.
Well done for anyone and all who had the guts to stand up and question.
1) That should be a per person fine and
2) I hope it is the start.
Anyone affected by this has my total support and I am appalled that a company I was so proud to get a uniform from has sunk to this.
Well done for anyone and all who had the guts to stand up and question.
I think you will find it was AIPA that first raised this issue......either way the profession is the loser! Jetstar are thinking of other ways to screw their people, why does that not surprise me.....
either way the profession is the loser! Jetstar are thinking of other ways to screw their people, why does that not surprise me.....
Imagine how much these cadet pilots would be earning on their junior first officer salary after paying the $17,500 training bill 
I don't think you could even live on that.
I don't think you could even live on that.
Wrong, Jetstar had to return the money and pay the fine.
The money was returned two months later after a legal challenge by the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP).
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As JetStar is the subsidiary of an ASX listed company they will probably have a Legal Compliance Officer or similar. There will also be Audit and Safety Committees etc.
Getting pinged like this is not going to slip through and would have to go to the Board level. Board members at places like this are incredible ass-coverers so they won't like it.
I think you'll find this action has drawn a line in the sand about how far they can go with dodgy stuff like this and now they'll back off in future.
Getting pinged like this is not going to slip through and would have to go to the Board level. Board members at places like this are incredible ass-coverers so they won't like it.
I think you'll find this action has drawn a line in the sand about how far they can go with dodgy stuff like this and now they'll back off in future.
HR
HR. you gotta love these arse kissing, self promoting, pyramid climbing clowns.
Their sole purpose is to screw the very resource that their name derives from. In return they crave kudos from their political masters, and seek justification for what are otherwise useless qualifications.
It's a sad indictment of airline management that they can be so blinded by short term financial benefit, that they fail to grasp the long term results! A former employer of mine, against all union and independent legal advice, went with the HR managers inappropriate treatment of 2 long standing employees. The result, after said HR manager had moved on to the next demolition site, was a negative profit statement for the company!
I suppose with the huge losses the Qantas group are facing, what's another $90K.
Their sole purpose is to screw the very resource that their name derives from. In return they crave kudos from their political masters, and seek justification for what are otherwise useless qualifications.
It's a sad indictment of airline management that they can be so blinded by short term financial benefit, that they fail to grasp the long term results! A former employer of mine, against all union and independent legal advice, went with the HR managers inappropriate treatment of 2 long standing employees. The result, after said HR manager had moved on to the next demolition site, was a negative profit statement for the company!
I suppose with the huge losses the Qantas group are facing, what's another $90K.
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The Federal Court has fined Jetstar $90,000 for trying to force cadet pilots to pay for their own training and unlawfully deducting part of their wages to enforce it.
What a disgrace & certainly not unexpected either as a lot of Co's now are trying anything they can to save/make a buck in this cut throat world we do business in.
Aviation is just one small part of the ugliness this country is showing.:-(
Would be interesting to know how this latest little shafting by 'JokeStar' will filter down thru the ranks as someone in HR or whatever Dept cunningly planned this will be wearing a size 10 boot imprint on their ass!
The word 'vindictive' will most likely feature in these poor cadets during their possibly short aviation career!
Wmk2
Aviation is just one small part of the ugliness this country is showing.:-(
Would be interesting to know how this latest little shafting by 'JokeStar' will filter down thru the ranks as someone in HR or whatever Dept cunningly planned this will be wearing a size 10 boot imprint on their ass!
The word 'vindictive' will most likely feature in these poor cadets during their possibly short aviation career!
Wmk2
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Yeah Peter, I'm sure it was an honest mistake, I'm also sure that the board will be horrified. There'll be a public apology in all the major newspapers. The board will trot off to the HR Nicholls Society and present a paper on the ethical treatment of staff despite the need for industrial reform.
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as a complete newbie when i read through the jetstar cadetship information it did nothing but ring alarm bells, googled news for there program and the first thing that came up was them screwing the cadets over in NZ $ for flying in australia, Subsequent articles showed them screwing over there more senior crews as well.
How can an organisation like this actual manage to recruit staff?
How can an organisation like this actual manage to recruit staff?