File photo.
Fair Work Australia has made a final determination on employment terms and conditions for around 1,600 licensed aircraft maintenance engineers, which will remain in place until 31 December 2014.
Fair Work Australia has endorsed the proposed workplace determination which Qantas and the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) presented Fair Work Australia in late December for its consideration.
Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce said Qantas was pleased that an agreement had finally been reached and that Qantas had maintained the flexibility needed to operate competitively in the global aviation industry.
“After such a damaging industrial campaign by the licensed aircraft maintenance engineers’ union last year, it is a relief that this issue has finally drawn to a close,” Mr Joyce said.
“The determination from Fair Work Australia does not contain any of the restrictive demands that would have handed control of parts of the airline to the union however it provides reasonable pay increases to our workers.”
Mr Joyce said the arbitration process with the pilots’ union and Transport Workers’ Union was continuing before Fair Work Australia.
Details of the determination include:
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3 per cent pay increase per annum.
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New licensing arrangements.
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Changes which ease restrictions on extended hours rosters.
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Arrangements for the transition to retirement for licenced engineers.
National Secretary of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Tony Sheldon said Fair Work Australia’s decision to ratify an agreement for increased pay rates for licensed aircraft engineers, and to ensure that work is required to be undertaken by licensed engineers, is a practical solution for the union and their members.
“This decision represents a practical solution for the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association and their members and families. Maintenance work on the existing fleet will continue to be undertaken by licenced aircraft engineers.
“The Government called in Fair Work Australia in response to the senseless, dangerous and damaging lockout by Qantas. Tens of thousands of passengers were stranded for days, often on the other side of the world, at the whim of Qantas. The reputation of Qantas was seriously damaged nationally and internationally. Thousands of hard working Australians were locked out as management attempted to renege on pay agreements, to destroy job security and to undermine safety.
“We look forward to bringing our strong case on behalf of our members before Fair Work Australia in late March. We will be holding further briefings with our delegates over the next week to ensure each member and their family is consulted and involved. We are presently scheduling meetings with Qantas and workplace representatives for the coming weeks to narrow the areas of disagreement before the March hearings.
“All we have asked for on behalf of our members is fairness from management and a chance for Qantas employees to continue to carry out the work that makes Qantas such a great airline, with decent wages, fair job security and appropriate safety. We have always stood ready to reach a settlement that is enforceable on behalf of our members.
“We continue to prepare for the arbitration process if agreement fails to be reached. This will then be a test case for Fair Work Australia. If a profitable Australian icon can be allowed to outsource jobs and safety standards then it is open season on all Australian workers. This is one of the issues we will be highlighting in our forthcoming submission to the review of the Fair Work Act.”