Qantas tells pilots to stop fighting
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Jetconnect operates transTasman flights with the flying kangaroo livery, QF flightcodes and Qantas crew uniforms say AIPA.
Qantas has called on the Australian pilots union to stop industrial action and support the airline and its passengers, however AIPA is standing firmly by its claims against the airline.
Qantas Group Executive Government and Corporate Affairs, Olivia Wirth, said; “I would encourage the pilots’ union to end its industrial campaign against Qantas and our passengers’ and instead work with Qantas to reach a new enterprise bargaining agreement for our long-haul pilots.”
The invitation comes after the national workplace relations tribunal, Fair Work Australia, rejected calls from the Australian and International Pilots’ Association (AIPA) to have Jetconnect pilots subject to Australian industrial laws and agreements. The union claims that the establishment of Jetconnect was intended to avoid Australia’s industrial laws or disadvantage Qantas pilots. The ailrine, however, says this decision proves otherwise and the fact that no Qantas short-haul pilots have been made redundant since Jetconnect started flying undermines this accusation further.
Commenting on the ruling, Ms Wirth said this was a logical decision, adding; “The union should not be attempting to use Australia’s Fair Work Act to override the industrial relations legislation and industrial agreements in other countries.”
However the Union is already considering an appeal. It expressed disappointment in the 2:1 split decision, but took solice in the support of Senior Deputy Drake who described Jetconnect as “a sham company”. AIPA President Captain Barry Jackson stands adamantly by the claim, saying; “Qantas management have been cynically using this hollow shell of a company to avoid awarding employees Australian wages and conditions on what are ostensibly Qantas flights.”
“The whole Jetconnect operation has been nothing short of a deception,” he added.
The decision follows the Australian Industrial Relations Commission determination in 2007 that AIPA does not have the right to cover Jetconnect pilots. Most of the 100 Jetconnect pilots are instead covered by a three-year collective agreement between the airline and the New Zealand Airline Pilots Association which came into force in May 2008.
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