Malaysia Airlines Systems (MAS) still cannot answer how MAS will operate in Australian when it mutates into Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) in just over two weeks' time. The ASU continues to pursue Malaysia Airlines for answers on its structure post 1 September 2015 and so the ASU has re-activated our Fair Work Commission dispute. The Fair Work Commission has agreed to hear the dispute on Friday 14 September at 10am in Sydney.
At the ASU's request the Fair Work Commission has notified Mr Lee Poh Kait (PK) of the date, time and place of the dispute to ensure PK shows up. The ASU wants PK there as MAS's Australian management has proved incapable of providing answers to ASU members, or even been able to re-assure ASU members of their continuing employment after 1 September 2015.
The ASU's number one priority is to protect our members' jobs. Whatever difficulties Malaysian Airlines is in now is in no way due to anything that has occurred in the Australian operations, so why should the Australian operations be punished? The Malaysia Airlines Enterprise Agreement 2013, and the Fair Work Act provide protection against Malaysia Airlines management capriciously putting your employment at risk, and the ASU will fully utilise the Fair Work Act to ensure our members are treated fairly.
The ASU's other priority is to protect our members' 2013 Enterprise Agreement. We have the benefit of the Fair Work Act, particularly sections 307 to 320, to safeguard the 2013 Enterprise Agreement and to continue the 2013 Enterprise Agreement setting your terms and conditions of employment, no matter what Malaysian Airlines chooses to call their business after 1 September 2015.
The ASU will not allow our members working conditions to be eroded by an employer trying to avoid their obligations under their enterprise agreement, and the ASU has previously told Malaysian Airlines at the Fair Work Commission that the ASU will not allow Malaysian Airlines to phoenix their Australian business in order to avoid recognising the employees entitlements under the 2013 Enterprise Agreement.
The ASU fought for our members in Queensland to ensure they got their full entitlements and we will do the same for our members in other states.
What next?
The ASU will quickly let you know how the Fair Work Commission proceedings go. This may be only the first step in ensuring that Malaysia Airlines is held to account.
Contact your ASU Organiser for more details (download the full bulletin below for details).
Malaysia Airlines Bulletin, 13 August 2015