Qantas jobs OK for now!
Qantas has said that it will keep 460 heavy maintenance jobs at Melbourne airport, but has warned that the viability of the Boeing 737 base will be monitored under a broader review of the airline’s engineering operations.
Qantas also wants more co-operation between Tullamarine and the airline’s maintenance centre at Avalon, near Geelong, with testerday’s decision, after an eight-month review a huge relief for the Tullamarine workforce.
Qantas has previously threatened to send engineering jobs offshore unless the business becomes much more efficient and in March, Qantas closed its 747 heavy maintenance base in Sydney with the loss of 480 jobs.
Unions welcomed yesterday’s announcement, saying it recognised Australian skills, with Australian Workers Union National Secretary Bill Shorten saying that closing the Melbourne base would have been a disgrace and along with colleagues adding, “the devil will be in the detail as to what they are looking for in terms of a further review”.
Qantas’ executive general manager of engineering and maintenance services, David Cox, praised efficiency improvements at Tullamarine, adding, “But we have identified opportunities for further improvements that we will pursue over the next 12 months,” adding that more flexibility in rostering was needed, as well as greater integration of Tullamarine with the Avalon base.
Some 737 heavy maintenance had been done at Avalon and this would continue depending on need, with Avalon expanding recently, with the transfer of 747 heavy maintenance from Sydney.
The site, which employs about 800 people, is also converting 737 aircraft into freighters for Australian Air Express, a joint venture between Qantas and Australia Post.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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