Off-shoring, contracting out and cost-cutting by QANTAS is impacting on maintenance standards according to a new poll of Qantas maintenance workers.
The poll of 200 members across worksites in Sydney, Brisbane, Tullamarine and Avalon reveals 83% are worried about safety of QANTAS aircraft due to staffing pressures and off-shoring.
When asked about the effects of contracting out, outsourcing or off-shoring:
• 69% agreed work needed to be re-checked more often
• 67% agreed work has to be re-done before it meets standards
• 62% agreed QANTAS has a cheaper service but corners are getting cut
AMWU National Secretary Dave Oliver says maintaining a highly skilled workforce in Australia would be a key issue in upcoming negotiations with QANTAS prior to the expiration of enterprise bargaining agreements in December.
“According to this poll, 97% of our members agree that the best way for QANTAS to guarantee maintenance standards is to retain maintenance work in-house, in Australia,” said Mr Oliver.
“They are extremely concerned about the damage to the safety reputation of QANTAS, built up by hard work over the years that is now in danger of being undermined by the impact of cost-cutting by QANTAS with off-shoring and contracting out.
“80% disagree that contracting out has improved productivity and efficiency at QANTAS and there are serious concerns about management, with only 29% agreeing that they have faith in QANTAS management to understand issues relating to safety and staffing.
“The AMWU has been warning QANTAS for years that off-shoring and contracting out has negative impacts on maintenance work, and our concerns are backed up by CASA’s finding that safety levels have fallen below QANTAS benchmark standards.
“We have called on CASA to provide full and public disclosure of their recent report into the safety of QANTAS, in light of their continuing audit of maintenance procedures.
“The workers are genuinely concerned about the potential damage to the airline’s reputation therefore, in upcoming EBA negotiations, the AMWU will be seeking commitments from QANTAS for a highly trained, in-house maintenance workforce.
“In the early 90’s QANTAS apprentice intake was 1,000 per year. It has now dropped considerably and we are lucky to average 100 per year nationally. The apprenticeship program at QANTAS is unique as it instils safety procedures from the outset and is increasingly rare amongst other airline providers.
“The AMWU will be seeking commitment from QANTAS to reinvest in its apprenticeship programs and ensure that the industry is prepared for the future, not just cutting corners to save a few dollars.
“QANTAS posted a record profit this year, but we need to ask at what price?
“They owe it to the Australian flying public to listen to the concerns of our members and stop outsourcing and bring maintenance work back in-house” said Mr Oliver.