Qantas says that it is taking legal action against the union representing flight engineers at Perth airport in a dispute over safe working conditions.
Qantas says the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association is acting illegally by telling its 80 Perth members to work in pairs rather than alone, with the association saying that it took the action because a change in roster has caused a shortage of engineers on each shift, leaving no one to answer emergency calls if there is an accident on the tarmac.
The Association’s Federal Secretary, Stephen Purvinas, told media that the safety of its members is at risk, adding, “Quite often we see broken legs and so on, if someone slips over, we really need that emergency channel there in case one of our members is in that situation”.
The two parties will appear at the Federal Industrial Relations Commission today.
Report by The Mole
