President’s Opinion

I’m pleased that after many difficult months of negotiations, the ALAEA has reached in-principle agreement with Virgin for a new EA. This will be put for vote shortly in workplace meetings around Australia.

I’d like to thank the Virgin Tech negotiating committee and our Federal Secretary Steve Purvinas for their hard work and persistence. If not for the time and effort put in a lesser agreement would have made it’s way to the table. The Vice President, Wes Bell, also put in a lot of voluntary hours at negotiation meetings to assist and support the Virgin Tech team.

I would especially like to thank our Virgin members for their commitment and unity.  ALAEA membership at Virgin has risen from around 40% 18 months ago to nearly, if not, 100% now. That membership density has been the single most important factor in swinging the company towards an EA offer that Virgin aircraft engineers could be happy with. We’ve been able to reach an agreement that offers an increase in overall remuneration, protection of conditions and recognition in specific areas like permanent night shift and aircraft type payments.

Please take the time to attend the ALAEA run meetings and read the document carefully – after all it is your EA and your future. There’s still a way to go until members formally accept the agreement, but we’ve made excellent progress in this very important negotiation. Congratulations to all involved.

I’ll shortly by putting out a notice calling for expressions of interest for members wishing to attend the ALAEA Federal Conference in Sydney 2010. Federal conference takes place every four years. There will be wide-ranging discussions about our workplaces and our industry. It’s where we map out the future of the ALAEA and the role of the ALAEA in the future of Australian aviation. Of those who register their interest, we will select 65 delegates to represent the membership by section and region.

Federal conference is a great opportunity to have your say in the big issues affecting your union and your industry, so I urge you all to look out for the notice and register your interest.

Similarly, I will soon be asking for expressions of interest to represent the ALAEA at next year’s Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) Maintenance Skills Competition (MSC) in Las Vegas. The ALAEA was represented at the AMT MSC for the first time earlier this year and our team did us very proud.

This is a great opportunity to compete on a world stage and prove that Australian LAMEs are up there with, if not the best in the world.

Keep safe,

Paul Cousins, President