Qantas has dismissed claims by a union boss that Qantas engineers had been stood down as a result of yesterday’s QF32 engine incident.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the federal secretary of the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA), Steve Purvinas, was wrong, “and had demonstrated yet again that he was prepared to go to any lengths to further his industrial agendaâ€.
“It is clearly too soon to speculate on the cause of yesterday’s engine failure,†Joyce said.
“Regardless, Steve Purvinas continues to peddle prejudices and generalisations about aircraft maintenance and safety in the knowledge that his claims will more than likely go unchallenged.
“The engineers he has referred to in a number of media interviews today are employed by QantasLink in Brisbane and are involved in ongoing enterprise agreement negotiations.
“Six employees were directed not to attend work last week, on full pay, while a disciplinary matter is appropriately investigated. This has nothing to do with our A380 fleet.
“Mr Purvinas also continues to raise overseas aircraft maintenance as though this was something only Qantas was not allowed to pursue. The overwhelming majority of our aircraft maintenance is undertaken in Australia, and he knows this.”
Joyce added, “We operate an international airline and aircraft that are manufactured overseas so it is inevitable some need to be serviced overseas and that has always been the case.
“All Mr Purvinas is interested in grabbing is a headline, regardless to the damage to the reputation of Qantas and its employees including members of his own union.â€
