Sky_hi!

Hey NZKID! Well done. Goodluck and best wishes. Have fun in Sydney training! I'm sure it will be a blast

Tess

Hi all. I have just registered..thought it better to be a participant not just a spectator! I start training in August for Bne Base with MAM. Just wondering if anyone has any info on how many hours per month MAM personnell are currently getting? Is it worth me leaving my full-time position just for a chance at getting a" foot in the door" with QF?? Are we allowed to go for promotions (csm, longhaul etc) ?? Any help would be much appreciated..Thanks

SydGirl

Hi Tess,

First up, whatever you do, DO NOT give up your full time position in order to take up a casual position with MAM. Remember, your employment is on a casual basis only and with MAM, not Qantas - you can advise MAM of when you are available to work and you will only be allocated duties within those dates. The majority of MAM crew that I know have a full time/part time job that will pay the bills in case your work with MAM won't.

In addition to the above, what would happen if you gave up your full time job, went through the training school (assuming you pass, many don't!) and got to be an FA only to discover you actually don't like the job. It happens more than you would think!

I don't know how many hours the BNE based MAM crew are getting but my biggest advice is don't let it rule your life. MAM is casual so there are no 'guaranteed' hours, some weeks you may be working full time, others you may get only 2 or 3 hours. 2 hours a week will not pay the mortgage.

MAM employees are not able to apply for any QF positions internally, ie CSMs. If you want to be a CSM then you need to be a permanent QF FA first. To go to longhaul you must either be a permanent QF employed shorthaul FA and be on a transfer list, or apply directly for entry as a longhaul FA.

QF is currently accepting applications for longhaul FAs on a contract basis. There is no guarantees that the contract will be extended or crew will be employed on a permanent basis.

Tread carefully.
Good Luck!
SG

Bizzi_Boi

SydGirl,

I understand the advice you gave but my question to you is :

How many people are you aware of that have not made it through QF training school ?

Just wanted to say, that advice on the forum is good but consideration for random comments without more details or actual facts can be worse than the intended advice.

Cheers,

Bizzi_Boi

SydGirl

Bizzi_Boi,

I am aware that it is not uncommon for one student per class (a class is up to 16 students, and sometimes it is more than one) to fail or drop out.

Obviously this doesn't happen in EVERY class, but I would say it is at least 3 classes out of 4 where it does.

I am sure that operating crew can think of many people they know who decided that the job wasn't for them within the first 12 months or who didn't make it through the training school for whatever reason.

Feel free to PM me if you require more details.
SG

Tess

SG...thanks for the advice...much appreciated. I am currently an FA and adore my job so want to be working as much as possible! IN THE AIR not at some dingy cafe to pay the bills...maybe MAM is not for me afterall. Still thinking... Any more advice and any info from current MAM employees or trainees would be much appreciated...Anyone??

QF skywalker

Tess,

Your profile says you are a CS with DJ - well done ! You really want to give up the good $$ with DJ as a CS to get a casual job with QF (MAM)? Maybe you should consider the VS exchange program if you are a looking for a change ? Just my thoughts !

I tend to agree wholeheartedly with SYDGIRL - I have just witnessed some people fail a training school and it's not always EP's that makes them get terminated. Lots of other issues...i.e-bad habits from another job etc.

MAM are hiring a large amount of casuals. This is to cover the shortage in s/h at present...however....when things get quiet so does MAM and when there is such a large amount of you on the books this unfortunately means hours are few and far between ( just ask the EX ansett flight force casuals.)

Good Luck in your decisions Tess Btw - I am not slamming QF. I am the biggest supporter of my employer however working for a labour hire company is somewhat different.

cheers

Bizzi_Boi

Well DAY 1 of training is over and I'm awake at 4:00am getting ready for the 2nd day with a real early start.

I think training,studying and posting on the forum are going to be hard work.

So at this point, Bizzi_Boi bids farewell to the forum for a while.

Thanks for all the support and constant PM's to give me motivation.

I'll do my best to keep in touch later on in the training.

Cheers,

Bizzi_Boi

Z Force

Apparently the work load is horrendous. There is one course doing the six week course in five and another course that has been abbreviated to four weeks! Six days per week and study on the day off. The only time you aren't attending to study is on the drive to or from work.

Jane Jetson

Congratulations on all you new MAM people - you will LURVVE it! Just one thing though, don't bother joining the FAAA. The only thing they're good at doing for us MAM crew is taking our hard earned $$$. Now before any of you get all hot and bothered, I'm not bagging unions - in fact I am SO totally union I've practically got the Eureka flag tattooed on my nether regions. And I must say the FAAA are FANTASTIC for Qantas crew but disappointingly, completely useless for us - we MAM people have been SOOOO let down by the FAAA it's pitiful. Unless you work directly for Qantas, they don't wanna know. We've had many issues specifically relating to us but they just don't give a monkeys. Save your money people.

fourplay

Thanks for that Jane.
I am very pro union myself and am most disappointed to read what you had to say, Yet I believe you.
What a disgrace!

OZcabincrew

I back that comment up 100%! Myself and a lot of my colleagues (MAM) have had many queries regarding certain issues and 99% of the time have never had a reply from the union whatsoever, even after constant nagging. There are a few of my colleagues who are seriously thinking about pulling the pin on the union and putting their money towards something more useful like some new underwear, at least we'll get more support!!!!


All bases need to push for a MAM union rep as we have just found out after being told that it's not possible that it is more than possible for MAM to have union reps, so i think all MAM casuals in all bases need to have a chat and elect a union rep so we do actually have a direct MAM voice and not someone who covers all of QF short haul and us, i know they have good intentions, but i don't think we're at the top of their priority list, or even near it. Also, stick to your guns and don't take no for answer and more importantly don't take any intimidation as being acceptable!

If any casuals want to have a chat about this, just private message me!!!!!

Oz

Tess

I have never had to use the unions before although have been a member.."just incase"..for over 3 years now. Recently, I had nothing but support from two union members from Bne. when I requested info about my DJ->MAM move. Technically still employed by DJ however. Would be disappointed to see priorities change if I was to take the MAM position. If all else fails maybe try the Bne union reps. Otherwise, some MAM delegates are a fantastic idea.

Z Force

So how does the FAAA let Qantas run the casuals on a full time basis? Are they intending to casualise the flight attendant workforce? What if you are a casual and you don't want to or can't work full time?

Gomam

hi everyone

yes i thought of joining the FAAA, however after the last few comments I probably will not.

My question to other Mam people out there are:

1-Is it legal for MAM to tell us that we have to make ourselves available 12 days per month?

2-We are finishing training in a few weeks and have been advised that MAM will be giving us a block of one months work, and we have to do this. (is this legal as well?)

I am not having a winge, however we are casual and if they want us to do work it has to suit us as well. It can not be a one way street.

i am keen to know others thoughts on this issue

Iguanahead

Hi gomam,

I'm not part of the casual workforce but I can assume a couple of things relating to your queries.

Firstly the one months block flying is probably to do with your initial training. I'm guessing you will be online with a trainer to coach you through your first month. And therefore it is a requirement of your training to complete this.

Secondly as far as the requirement for you to make yourself available for 12 days I guess it depends on what you signed up for. If it's in your contract and you said yes then it's legal. You have to consider the fact that Mam are not going to employ you, spend the time and money on training you and then take the chance of having you turn around and say to them you're too busy to do a minimal amount of flying. They are just covering them selves with the amount of staff available to them to utilise.

Hopefully someone in the know will have some solid info for you but realisitically this is what "casual" work and contracts are all about.

Good luck with your flying, hope you enjoy it.

Bizzi_Boi

Hey I have some time out of 'lockdown' @ 4am to write this :

To answer 'GoMam' on the hours and one month full time block after training here is an explanation :

As you would know you have only signed for a Training Flight Attendant contract/agreement to which your currently on. On successful graduation on your last day MAM will get you to sign a new contract/agreement.

In the Agreement, you will be signing that you :

1. Will be available a minimum of 12 days a month
2. You will work a full time temporary roster in the first month to fufil business training needs.

Other parts of the contract will bind you. No negoiations can occur with out directly making them known to MAM. So to answer the question. MAM are well within their rights as it will be in the contract that you sign at graduation. Shame we can't be shown the contract prior but this is the way MAM wants to handle this.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Bizzi_Boi ( current fave a/c posy is R2P on 733,734,738 )

OZcabincrew

Hi Guys!!!

This is obviously a new inclusion into your MAM contract as it isn't in ours about having to make yourself available minimum 12 days a month, so thats a bit of a bugger for you, but i am guessing as Qantas have had trouble with a lot of casuals just making themselves unavailable for the whole month, this way they are guaranteed to at least get 12 days a month out of you.

The full time flying block for the first month is your training month where you "SHOULD" be allocated an inflight trainer, i am aware some people recently haven't been allocated a trainer at all, probably due to staff shortage, however usually the other crew are more than happy to help!

The reason we're on full time work is because just after we signed our original casual contract (MAM Perth), we were offered the chance to take an 8 month full time fixed term contract guaranteeing us a roster for the next 8 months whether it be reserve or flying and then at the end of the 8 months, we'll just go back to our original casual contract.

Just make sure you read your contract very carefully and bring up any issues that you have, because once you've signed it, you're locked in, in a way. Obviously you're contract is slightly different to ours.

Anyway, good luck and enjoy it. Don't come in with an attitude or miserable, there's too much of that already, just really make flying fun and if you feel as if you're taking it all for granted, just think how long it took you to get this job and how many people would LOVE to be in your shoes! It really is one of the best jobs ever! Even if we don't unfortunately get any of the perks!

Oz

Jane Jetson

That's a bit strange, different contracts for new casuals. Anyone know where I can find a copy of the new EBA? Yet another FAAA stuff up.

lexus1

Jetson

Try getting all of the facts before making stupid statements.

There is no new EBA. The existing EBA is between MAM and The FAAA. It determines rates of pay, duty hour limitations, restbreaks etc. These are all based around the Short Haul EBA.
The number of available days is not covered in the EBA.

If you are a member, ring the FAAA or go to the planned meetings next week to get all the details. The FAAA can also provide you with a copy of your EBA.