In March 2010 almost 70 ASU Qantas Group Delegates from across Australia met to discuss our Union’s strategy for the forthcoming Qantas EBA 9 campaign. Over two days your delegates considered survey results, talked tactics, put together a draft claim for members’ consideration and also elected your ASU Qantas EBA 9 National Negotiating Team.

In the attached document we take the opportunity to introduce the National Negotiating Team (NNT).

Around 70 ASU Qantas Group delegates from all around Australia met in Melbourne on 17 & 18 March 2010 to discuss the year ahead and in particular the preparations for this year’s bargaining agenda in the Qantas Group.

Delegates from Qantas Airways, QFCL, QFIT, Jetstar and QantasLink attended to plan our strategy.

British Airways Cabin Crew who are members of UK union Unite, today enter their third day of strike action.

This action hasn’t been taken lightly- with the dispute going back to November last year when management imposed cuts in staffing levels that crew believe are damaging the airline’s standing as a premier carrier.

Staffing levels have been cut from four to three on the Euro-fleet, while long-haul crews have seen reductions of between one to three.

As reported recently the ASU has lodged a dispute with Fair Work Australia (the new industrial relations commission) in relation to the part timers back pay claim. It is extremely disappointing that ASU members have had to revert to the powers of the independent umpire (FWA) in order to force Qantas to undertake the review of part timer hours as per the EBA- and make payment of all outstanding money. This is particularly so – given the company has already made repayments in Brisbane for exactly the same claim!

In a disappointing decision for ASU Airlines Members, Fair Work Australia (FWA) handed down a decision on 26 February refusing to make modifications to the Airline Operations Ground Staff Award 2010 (the modern Airlines Award).

The decision is in the face of a request by the Deputy Prime Minister to FWA to look at a structure in this Award that acknowledged the 3 levels of operation – regional, domestic and overseas carriers. This decision is a slap in the face for ASU members in airlines. It lowers the Award safety net to an unrecognisably low level and eliminates long held allowances.

For the first time in a long time ASU members at Qantas will be negotiating our new EBA under fair laws; the Fair Work Act. EBA 8 was negotiated under Work Choices which prohibited some Claims and clauses – these previous problems are no longer present, it is a new era.

Clauses Relating to Part Time Employment

EBA 8 Clause 18.5.2 (a) (current agreement):  All time worked in excess of 7.6 hours per day, 10 days per fortnight, 1560 hours in the first year following the date of the coming into force of this provision, or 1410 hours in any successive year, shall be overtime and paid at overtime rates specified in this EBA 8.

EBA 7 Clause 20.2 (f) (i) (previous agreement): All time worked in excess of 7.6 hours per day, 10 days per fortnight, 1560 hours in the first year following the date of the coming into force of this provision, or 1410 hours in any successive year, shall be overtime and paid at overtime rates specified in this award.

Clauses Relating to Part Time Employment

EBA 8 Clause 18.5.2 (a) (current agreement):  All time worked in excess of 7.6 hours per day, 10 days per fortnight, 1560 hours in the first year following the date of the coming into force of this provision, or 1410 hours in any successive year, shall be overtime and paid at overtime rates specified in this EBA 8.

EBA 7 Clause 20.2 (f) (i) (previous agreement): All time worked in excess of 7.6 hours per day, 10 days per fortnight, 1560 hours in the first year following the date of the coming into force of this provision, or 1410 hours in any successive year, shall be overtime and paid at overtime rates specified in this award.

The regular meeting between Airport management your Delegates and Organiser was held on 19 November. Below is a summary of the issues discussed and outcomes of the meeting.