ID :
198096
Fri, 07/29/2011 - 14:04
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https://oananews.org//node/198096
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Qantas stand-downs escalate dispute
SYDNEY (AAP) - July 29 - A senior pilot and a highly skilled engineer have been stood down by Qantas after they threatened to go on strike.
The spat comes as the Flying Kangaroo battles industrial action on several fronts, including a 24-hour work stoppage by up to 300 warehouse workers across five states on Friday.
Qantas ground staff had voted this week for a protected action ballot after management knocked back key claims in the latest negotiations over their workplace agreement.
Low-key industrial action kicked off a week ago in the first taken by long-haul pilots for four decades.
Captain Steven Anderson was told he was no longer required to fly from Hong Kong to Melbourne on Friday night after refusing to work any overtime on flight QFA0030.
The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) said one of its members had also been stood down after he planned to read every instruction manual twice.
Both men were docked pay.
Capt Anderson remained in Hong Kong on Friday and it's believed the licensed engineer has since returned to work.
Australian & International Pilots Association (AIPA) president Barry Jackson called the standing down of Capt Anderson "deliberately inflammatory" and "wholly unnecessary".
"It has the sole aim of provoking Qantas pilots to anger," Captain Jackson said.
A Qantas spokesman told AAP on Friday that the airline was not prepared to risk passengers being delayed getting to Melbourne because the captain wanted to take industrial action.
Also on Friday, warehouse staff stopped work in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.
National Union of Workers (NUW) industrial officer Adam Portelli said its members' concerns centred on the refusal by Qantas to protect permanent jobs and acknowledge the rights of casual employees.
The warehouse workers handle freight, passenger catering and replacement equipment and parts for the Qantas fleet.
A Qantas spokesman said the warehouse strikes had caused no disruption to passengers.
"Qantas has made an offer of reasonable increases on pay and conditions but this has been rejected by the NUW," the spokesman said.
"The main sticking point is the union seeking to remove flexibility that Qantas needs to respond to seasonal peaks and troughs and the volatile nature of aviation."
AIPA said its own industrial action, which began on July 22, would now continue until at least August 24, when Qantas is expected to announce details of a major restructure and publish its annual financial results.
Action by the union's members has been relatively low-key and includes a Qantas captain holding a two-minute meeting with himself at London's Heathrow Airport last Sunday.
Another pilot, believed to be Capt Anderson, also refused to wear his cap and tie during a flight.
Pilots are playing announcements to Qantas passengers about the dispute.
AIPA said it has opted to carry out low-key industrial action to minimise disruption.
The union is demanding that all Qantas jets be flown by a Qantas pilot or a pilot on conditions equal to the Qantas pilot agreement.
The ALAEA has also staged low-key industrial action because of a row with Qantas management over pay and conditions.
The union called off more substantive industrial action after Tiger Airways was grounded by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) on July 1.
In relation to the AIPA industrial action the carrier said: "If Qantas was to give the unions what they want it would drive up airfares, cost jobs and make Qantas airlines and routes unprofitable."
The spat comes as the Flying Kangaroo battles industrial action on several fronts, including a 24-hour work stoppage by up to 300 warehouse workers across five states on Friday.
Qantas ground staff had voted this week for a protected action ballot after management knocked back key claims in the latest negotiations over their workplace agreement.
Low-key industrial action kicked off a week ago in the first taken by long-haul pilots for four decades.
Captain Steven Anderson was told he was no longer required to fly from Hong Kong to Melbourne on Friday night after refusing to work any overtime on flight QFA0030.
The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) said one of its members had also been stood down after he planned to read every instruction manual twice.
Both men were docked pay.
Capt Anderson remained in Hong Kong on Friday and it's believed the licensed engineer has since returned to work.
Australian & International Pilots Association (AIPA) president Barry Jackson called the standing down of Capt Anderson "deliberately inflammatory" and "wholly unnecessary".
"It has the sole aim of provoking Qantas pilots to anger," Captain Jackson said.
A Qantas spokesman told AAP on Friday that the airline was not prepared to risk passengers being delayed getting to Melbourne because the captain wanted to take industrial action.
Also on Friday, warehouse staff stopped work in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.
National Union of Workers (NUW) industrial officer Adam Portelli said its members' concerns centred on the refusal by Qantas to protect permanent jobs and acknowledge the rights of casual employees.
The warehouse workers handle freight, passenger catering and replacement equipment and parts for the Qantas fleet.
A Qantas spokesman said the warehouse strikes had caused no disruption to passengers.
"Qantas has made an offer of reasonable increases on pay and conditions but this has been rejected by the NUW," the spokesman said.
"The main sticking point is the union seeking to remove flexibility that Qantas needs to respond to seasonal peaks and troughs and the volatile nature of aviation."
AIPA said its own industrial action, which began on July 22, would now continue until at least August 24, when Qantas is expected to announce details of a major restructure and publish its annual financial results.
Action by the union's members has been relatively low-key and includes a Qantas captain holding a two-minute meeting with himself at London's Heathrow Airport last Sunday.
Another pilot, believed to be Capt Anderson, also refused to wear his cap and tie during a flight.
Pilots are playing announcements to Qantas passengers about the dispute.
AIPA said it has opted to carry out low-key industrial action to minimise disruption.
The union is demanding that all Qantas jets be flown by a Qantas pilot or a pilot on conditions equal to the Qantas pilot agreement.
The ALAEA has also staged low-key industrial action because of a row with Qantas management over pay and conditions.
The union called off more substantive industrial action after Tiger Airways was grounded by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) on July 1.
In relation to the AIPA industrial action the carrier said: "If Qantas was to give the unions what they want it would drive up airfares, cost jobs and make Qantas airlines and routes unprofitable."
