President’s Opinion

Welcome back for 2012,

We are now well into the New Year which kicked off with the final ratification of the new Qantas EBA IX by Fair Work Australia. The EBA is consistent with the proposal put to members at meetings the ALAEA held around Australia at the end of last year. We expect Qantas to implement the new EBA promptly and we will be keeping a close eye on the process to ensure this is done correctly.

After standing strong in the face of the disgraceful tactics employed by the Qantas board and Alan Joyce last year, we can leave behind that nasty chapter and look to what lies ahead. But the New Year also brings challenges and, after a hopefully refreshing break, we must continue to ensure our rights and our industry are protected.

Our members showed what they were made of last year, but we should never have to endure such a despicable act from an employer again. No employer should be allowed to shut down their business to force the hand of government and hold its workers and the country to ransom. Changes to Workplace Relations must provide better protection of workers rights, particularly in the face of these rogue tactics.

The New Year brings new negotiations of workplace agreements and we must be prepared. It is important that all members have proper representation - a nominated person who can negotiate on their behalf and make their voices heard. So if the ALAEA is not your nominated workplace representative make sure you get your bargaining agent form in to the ALAEA office as soon as possible. You can get forms from our website or they can be faxed or emailed to you from the ALAEA office, once filled out return them immediately to the ALAEA office.

Meanwhile around the world, airlines are proving they are run by people with their heads well and truly stuck in the sand. Spanair ceased operations at the end of January after a rescue plan for the embattled airline fell apart. The airline had been struggling to turn a profit for years but despite this it traded at the expense of its employees only to leave them and the general public hanging.

American Airlines is also a recent casualty, attempting to remake itself under bankruptcy protection by slashing 13,000 jobs and eliminating key conditions for remaining workers. This is deceit at its best - claim you’re insolvent then rise like a phoenix from the ashes on the backs of those workers whose lives you crushed. A few years ago American Airlines workers accepted a 30% wage cut to help the airline out and since that time their Board members have taken massive bonuses each year. We bet they do again this year despite declaring bankruptcy.

The world has changed but that doesn’t mean airlines should be run into the ground at the expense of workers and the travelling public. The airline industry needs people with vision and a sense of innovation, people who take pride in their work and want to lead the industry towards a bright future. It doesn’t need CEOs who care for nothing but their own hip pockets and the easy way out.

In spite of all this, I know that ALAEA members will keep up the good work continuing Australia’s proud history of providing greater than world-class safety whilst knowing that we will continue to fight tooth and nail to ensure fair outcomes.

Once again, welcome back and I look forward to another successful year for our members and the ALAEA.

Be safe,

Paul Cousins,
Federal President

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