Qantas agreement favours Joyce

January 26, 2012
Issue 
Alan Joyce

After unilaterally locking out the Qantas workforce in October, grounding the fleet and leaving workers and travellers stranded, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has been handed a positive outcome by the federal government’s Fair Work Australia (FWA).

Joyce’s lockout resulted on October 30 in FWA terminating the legal, protected industrial action that Qantas unions had voted for, rewarding Joyce’s industrial sabotage.

FWA allows lockouts without restriction, but requires unions to give one month's notice before taking industrial action — giving corporations time to organise lockouts or scab labour to undermine industrial action.

On January 23, FWA endorsed a three-year agreement between Qantas and the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA), covering 1600 licensed engineers.

In return for allowing Qantas to introduce extended-hours rosters more easily, the agreement gives engineers a 3% annual pay rise – below the rate of inflation.

The agreement also puts Qantas profits before safety, specifying ALAEA will work with Qantas to allow trainees to “perform basic maintenance under supervision”.

Job security provisions that the ALAEA wanted were not included in the agreement.

But Joyce was most enthusiastic that the agreement ensures “the union cannot take any industrial action before 2015”.

The unions covering ground workers and pilots are still before FWA.

However, in another indication that FWA is stacked in favour of employers, both unions are barred from taking further industrial action.

Comments

Joyce will run this airline into the ground, alienate it's workforce (which it wants to do), divide and conquer the unions, piss of the travelling public, decimate the share price and welcome a take-over by a private consortium which will reward the board and Joyce with a handsome price for their self-rewarded shares. He will then walk away with 747 load of cash and be free to destroy another company - again. When will the government learn and put a stop to this vile, destructive abuse of workers and a company that is vital to our country?
Lets have a degree of sense here. The only outfit bent on destroying Qantas for it personal gains are the Unions. Remember Ansett? Joyce and his team have a highly competitive business to run - compete or disappear. FWA - Its good to finally see common sense win for a change. Overall a good settlement.

You need Green Left, and we need you!

Green Left is funded by contributions from readers and supporters. Help us reach our funding target.

Make a One-off Donation or choose from one of our Monthly Donation options.

Become a supporter to get the digital edition for $5 per month or the print edition for $10 per month. One-time payment options are available.

You can also call 1800 634 206 to make a donation or to become a supporter. Thank you.