ASU Jetstar delegates were out in force at the recent ASU Qantas Group National Delegates' meeting in Melbourne on 25 and 26 August 2015 with delegates from all ports in attendance. They joined 50 other delegates' from Qantas and other subsidiaries. There was a packed program of speakers and plenty of time to share experiences.
New Adelaide Airport Jetstar delegate Clare Harvey participated in our delegates' panel and talked about how she looks forward to working with our national group of delegates to ensure there is consistency of interpretation of our EBA across Australia.
Brendan O'Connor talks IR
We were fortunate to have Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Brendan O'Connor address us about the recent Productivity Commission draft report which has recommended cutting penalty rates on Sundays. If the Government is allowed to make this change, it would significantly affect airline workers who rely on penalty rates to earn a decent wage and so we must campaign to oppose this.
Campaigning for what we believe in
We also heard from a range of speakers who talked about what it takes to win campaigns. The key messages were being organised, unified and having fun in the process to achieve what you believe in. Reps from the Nurses Union, Textile Union, Trades Hall and the ACTU gave us lots of ideas about how to campaign and win.
Of particular interest was hearing about the ACTU Built a Better Future campaign. Check out some of the activities and materials for this campaign www.australianunions.org.au/resourcecentre.
We also got an interesting insight into the plight of asylum seekers from the Refugee Rights Advocate at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Pamela Curr which was particularly relevant given the recent publicity on this issue.
Alan Joyce faces delegates
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce also addressed ASU delegates and answered many and varied questions from delegates. There were no holds barred on questions with delegates keen to make sure the Group CEO understood what is happening at the frontline with tough incisive questions about routes, staff cut backs and the pay freeze among the topics covered.
Plan – plan – plan
We have a great opportunity to talk about issues affecting us at Jetstar in particular the way in which some Jetstar managers are trying to undermine our nil 48 deal from our EBA 5.
We have our regular quarterly delegates' meeting with Jetstar management on 28th September in Melbourne so we discussed what we need to put on the agenda which includes this issue and also how the Groundstar roll out is working ...... or not!
Rostering is so very important to everyone and we really need to ensure that the needs of staff not just the "system" are considered. Watch out for our report post the quarterly meeting.
Time to join the ASU
Your ASU Jetstar delegates have a lot of work to do over the coming months and they need your help. Now more than ever it is time to be an ASU member be it because of threats to penalty rates from the Federal Government or to work to achieving better rosters and enforcing our Jetstar EBA 5 – day in day out ASU membership pays for itself. You can join online at www.asu.asn.au/asujoin or get a membership form from your local organiser or delegate.
Jetstar Bulletin - 11 September 2015