Qantas Engineering redundances - Advice required!!!
 

Just after some advice as to what to do! As you are aware QF is making redundant 204 engineers and I could be one of those to go. (I do not believe they will get the VR they are after)
Having read the current EBA’s both for the LAME’S and AME’sI am struggling to find out how they will select the people for CR. It is my opinion that A380/H96 people will be spared and they will target the “legacy” people. Will current up-skillers be classed as fully time served AME? Will it be a performance related selection??
Is it worth “hanging around” waiting for the tap on the shoulder or jump if you have a chance? I would just like to know my odds of having a job in the New Year. Also what will happen after the redundancies have finished? Will a new engineering department grow from the ashes! or just less people and even worse career prospects.
Like I stated at the start, just after some advice as what to do. It is the unknown which is the worst bit.
Pterois Volitans

I suggest you talk to your union as they have been discussing this with Qantas. Also, there should be plenty of access to your management team to ask questions.

Having spoken to the unions and the managment, I am still in the position as to whether the axe will fall in my direction! Like most people I think, I want to know if my job is safe. I guess I will have to wait to see what the numbers are for VR at the end of the month.

PV

Unless you have something to go to make them Force you out why help them by taking VR :ok:

PV,
you've raised more questions than answers.

Are you single or married; chilidren or none?
How old are you?
Are you licensed or not?

The answers to these questions should at least help you form a plan of what you want to do.

If you are tapped (or decide to go) do you have an alternative? This will depend on your answers to the above questions. Note: there are some who want to go and others who have the attitdude, "Screw 'em. If they want to sack me they can, but I won't make it easy for them'. Do you fall into either category?

Have they offered, and have you thought about redeployment? That used to be an option with a 90 day 'trial'. If it is an option this time around, that may be worth looking at.

Finally it is your decision (unless you are tapped). You can talk to as many friends as you like, but their advice will depend on their own plans - not yours. Likewise union advice will be practical but still your ultimate decision. Forget management or HR unless you are asking your payout figure. They have quotas and want 204 people to go and don't care who - just so long as 204 go.

Edit:
How many years service do you have? This will determine your payout and therefore how long you can afford to be without a source of income.

Fight it out
 

Best of fighting to the bitter end. Better to die on your feet than on your knees. I am about to receive my marching orders as well.
Whatever the outcome is for anybody within the group, best of luck and in god's speed.

PH

Totally agree.

And at the end of the day we are probably all dead men walking. (They just wont let us in on their little surprises).

Redundancies
 

I'll be using the old saying "Don't volunteer for anything" as my guide.Though I sometimes wish they would hurry up instead of prolonging the agony. There's another thing that gets me, its the way some of the younger guys, especially L\H that have got there 330 licence, are strutting around like there untouchable and its buisness as usual.Quite sad really.

They havent mentioned who they are targeting, but i would be worried if you dont hold an A380, A330 or a 737 licence.
I have sent an application to Emirates, and i have a job lined up at the local car mechanic (i know 2 other LAME's who have lined up work as a car mechanic). But thats only if i do lose my job.

You can be sure that young guys are thinking the same things that you are. The difference is that they may not have the same kind of commitments as the older guys have that a payout won't fix, so things sit a bit easier.
Those that are left won't necessarily be young or brown nosers, and there is a need for most classifications, just fewer numbers.
It's true that fairness on the selection of those who go CR will not exist, but there are always surprises and the unexpected, so not all is a given.
I know this because I've been through two such events and it's never pleasant to see your friends disappear from the industry, but after the second, I found I could do better outside the industry.
In time though, (2-3 years) on both occasions, recruiting happens again because the management ALWAYS let go more than they should. That's no real comfort I know but it s a reality.
I wish all you guys (and girls) well during this and good luck.
:ok::ok::ok:

When I got made redundant on the shutting of Heavy Maintenance in 2006
I took the redundancy and what unpreserved super and suck it straight on the mortgage, it helped with the financial Burden well for me anyway.
I found that once I got over the panics of o m g what am I going to do
there was work out there, well back then anyway you just need to look,
Spent 2 years in the real world and it wasn't bad,But Im glad I"m back !!
Guy/Girls My thoughts are with you and wishing you all the best
:D
Cheers
Opal

Just One other thing if Qantas are putting work shops for life after qantas
and hope they do,I found it very painful to go there,but found it very helpful well for me.

Work out what your payout would/will be. Do you have any debt/mortgage etc. Are you ok with moving state/country? What licenses do you have?

The job market for LAMEs/AMEs is very very tough. If you only have a 767/747/744 license you have little to no chance of getting a LAME job anywhere in the world. I know people with full B1 licenses with B767, B744 & B737-NG who struggle to get a jobs. I know some gents who moved off the floor and went to Virgin due to lack of LAME jobs.

I would only "jump ship" if you are an AME and you get a job at jetstar or virgin. Other than that depending how old you are I would maybe think of changing careers. The biggest thing everyone at QF are going to have to realise is you are not going to find a job that pays what you're on unless you go to the mines etc and thats not as easy as Gillard makes out. good luck.

This may be true about the A380/H96, but then again, maybe not. They employed a lot of A380 people on the assumption that they were getting more A380's than they already have or are getting.

Quote:

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Will current up-skillers be classed as fully time served AME? Will it be a performance related selection??

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We are all in the same boat. I am treating myself as though I could be in this lot of redundancies, or the next one behind it. I am waiting for the tap. Like a lot of guys, I have a mortgage, kids and won't choose to go, but if told to go, then I have no choice but to go. I am of the assumption that if given CR, you don't have to wait as long for unemployment benefits than if you take VR. I could be wrong on this one. Who knows how they will choose those to go? I'm sure there are private black lists or hit lists, and these could be used.

Quote:

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Like I stated at the start, just after some advice as what to do. It is the unknown which is the worst bit.

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The ultimate decision is yours. You have to take into account your financial situation, whether you have a job lined up, if you're tied to a family or mortgage, etc etc.

Hope this helps.

FYI- there is no legal difference between CR or VR. It is simply that your position is made redundant and if you choose to go your "Certificate of service" from QF will simply say "redundant" and not if it was compulsory or voluntarily.

I think more may jump now than what most guys think. I know of a few that are very close to considering it or have already done so. It certainly wont be the full 200 but maybe close to the 40-50 mark. have heard the number overall is around 25-30 already.

These original questions have no exact answers yet and would be subjective. I would generally think it best to wait until the close is called for volunteers. It is after then that transfers fall and then consideration of how CR would be selected.


No they didn't. Some Engineers on the floor tore into the AWU Rep because they want people selected to go to come from a skills matrix made up by management. A matrix where you get more points for less absences or if you play golf with your boss. The Reps themselves got on fine.

Regardless of your outcome from this round, it would be prudent for all to look at increasing their level of education and transferable skills. Now is a great time to enroll in course for 2013. It might offer you more choices if the worst happens or maybe an opportunity for a bit of cash on the side you stay.

Fully agree. I would be making the absolute most out of those careers centres they are allowing you to attend during work time.

If you know your are on the list, why volunteer to go? There would be no appeal against that.