The ALAEA has received numerous complaints from members regarding the operation of the negotiated A380 course selection process and more particularly the selection by the company of LAMEs for training who had recently completed courses and then been selected for a second one within a short timeframe. From the results it appears that those persons marking candidates have been instructed to keep marks low enough so that select candidates can be marked 5 out of 5 in all categories to overcome the up to 25 points they would be behind worthy candidates who have been waiting patiently for their opportunity.  

 The ALAEA have had several meetings with the company in an attempt to ascertain why this has occurred and to this stage they will not reveal details of the operation of the process that is supposed to be jointly conducted by Qantas and the ALAEA. At one meeting the objective of the company was made clear when we demonstrated that it would be virtually impossible for some of the nominated candidates to overcome the deficit unless good LAMEs were deliberately marked low. The Managers then stated words to the effect that - it wasn’t a problem because the DMMs were all of the opinion that the right candidate ultimately was selected.

 A new expression of interest for A380 courses has just been released. Qantas seem to be determined to push ahead with selection, manipulating the agreed process in ways that unfairly put some candidates at an advantage over others. The ALAEA does not wish to delay selection by withdrawing our approval of the process and entering further futile discussions with current managers who refuse to engage in genuine discussions with our Representatives to address these concerns. The ALAEA believes that the negotiated process would be robust if applied fairly but at this stage that has not occurred.

 In order to get the company to the table for meaningful discussions it is now necessary for any Senior or Foreman involved in the marking process to fall back to a default position of marking all candidates 5 out of 5 for every part of the criteria.

 Until the matter is resolved this will mean that the successful applicants will be those who have waited the longest for training. We see this as preferable to a situation to that of the company continuing to operate in secret, with managers unfairly selecting their mates at the exclusion of other more deserving candidates. This notice will stand Australia wide until overturned by a subsequent one.

STEVE PURVINAS

Federal Secretary  

Attachments:

File
20100729_Notice QF 0102010 A380 Training.pdf