By ALAEA Federal Secretary
Steve Purvinas

A disturbing trend has been emerging at our national airline in recent weeks. Union members and officials at Qantas have been caught up in a spate of incidents that could only be described as un-Australian.

In each of these events, action was taken by Qantas after the employees and officials raised safety and security concerns within the group.

The cases now rest with various courts for determination where Qantas holds the upper hand due to its oversize legal budgets.

Two weeks ago Jetstar dismissed pilot Joe Eakins, an Australian and International Pilots Association delegate after he had spoke publically about his concerns with offshore recruiting of pilots.

Joe highlighted the use of Singapore and Vietnam as “bases of convenience” where wage contracts of 50% compared to the Australian counterparts were being offered.

Additionally he raised concerns with a new “merit based” promotion system as opposed to the standard pilot seniority method.

Joe said: “Every day in the life of a professional airline pilot is spent evaluating risks and determining the safest course of action. Sometimes this safest course of action will be at odds with the short-term commercial imperatives of the company.”

Another Qantas company, Sunstate, who fly Bombardier Dash-8 aircraft around Queensland have also demonstrated an aggressive approach to union members raising safety matters, this time internally.

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