Arbitration Update - Actions Of Qantas Inexplicable - Process to Potentially Be Drawn Out Further
Just when you thought progress towards an arbitrated outcome is getting closer, you can always trust your employer to throw another grenade.
As previously reported, all parties submitted their evidence in relation to the BOOT test and standby hours on 6th May. This was after Qantas sought and were granted two delays to the submission date. Then Qantas lawyers write today to the FWC seeking that further reply evidence is submitted by the parties and a further hearing takes place some time in the future.
The rationale behind this inexplicable request is that the submission of further evidence and a further hearing
'will offer assistance to the Commission, given it will otherwise be required to weigh up competing modelling and proposals that have not been subjected to challenge in terms of limitations, accuracy and reliability'.
This approach seemingly infers that an experienced full bench would not have the capability to review information on BOOT analysis - the Full Bench would have be fully aware that when they sought all parties to provide evidence at the same time, without a right of reply, that various 'competing' positions would be tabled. The Full Bench would then review and provide a decision.
The company also would have known this when the original directions to submit further evidence were issued, yet they chose not to raise a concern at that time. Only now at the eleventh hour do they raise surprise that each party actually put in differing positions!
Once again Qantas will drive down legal dead ends at every opportunity. Very much reminiscent of their desire to continually appeal the ground handling outsourcing debacle. It is as clear as it can be that the ongoing payment of pilots in Network Aviation at below the Award rate for now years, is a further reason for this request to delay proceedings. A company that pulls in billions in profits seeks to see their employees further squeezed of every last drop.
The AFAP will of course be strongly opposing this request made by the company, directly to the FWC, and while a decision regarding this request has yet to be made by the FWC, your Council wanted to ensure all members were clearly aware of the current inexplicable position being advocated by your employer.
As always your AFAP Network Aviation Pilot Council are:
Stephen Maughan:
smaughan@iinet.net.au
Ben Walmsley:
ben.walms@gmail.com
Joshua Sheldon:
Josh.b.sheldon@gmail.com
Sasha Leavy:
sasha_leavy@hotmail.com
Matt Atkinson:
matkinson209@gmail.com
Eman Zimmerman:
mano01@hotmail.com
Mark Levitt:
ml.network.pilotcouncil@outlook.com
Geoffrey Aro:
flyingaro@gmail.com
In addition, the AFAP Senior Industrial Officer Chris Aikens is contactable on
chris@afap.org.au. The AFAP Member Assistance Program (MAP) can be contacted via Freecall 1300 307 912. The AFAP website also advises of other welfare services at
https://www.afap.org.au/membership/member-articles/welfare-services