Just a reminder to our members that the FAAA has been very busy behind the scenes in preparing to have your LA allowances restored. On Tuesday 29 April, our legal team will be seeking to persuade the Commissioner at the Fair Work Commission located at 80 William Street Sydney. The hearing will commence at 10am and is open to the public. It might be worthwhile to provide a brief history of this dispute for our members so you can see just how your membership fees are used. Background On Friday 20 September 2013 the company notified by way of email that it was changing the crew hotel to the Marriott and that it consequently wanted to negotiate a review of the allowances paid to crew based on menu prices at the new hotel. This email was sent at 9:39am and a teleconference was organised for 12 noon. As to the time frame of when the documents were actually read by the FAAA and VACC members, we had less than 2 hours to review the proposal prior to the scheduled teleconference. Frankly, we do not believe 2 hours notice in any way demonstrates an intention to engage in serious, meaningful dialogue or to genuinely ‘consult’ with the Association and employee representatives. By Monday 23 September management held a second teleconference. The agenda of this conference call was apparently to endorse the company’s proposed new allowances. It was at this meeting that the FAAA raised the issue of the allowances being locked in for the life of the agreement and that the company couldn’t unilaterally seek to reduce the allowances. Management disagreed with our interpretation of the clause and consequently, we advised management that we would reserve our position until the following day. Tuesday 24 September the General Manager of Cabin Crew was advised that the FAAA did not accept the Company’s right to reduce the allowances. Our position was clearly communicated by email on the same date confirming that the FAAA had rejected the company’s decision and further that we requested from management an update on how they intended to respond to our position. In short, we received no communication from management from Tuesday 24 until we received Michael Beveridge’s email on Sunday 29 September notifying all crew of the company’s decision to reduce the cash allowances paid. In accordance with the enterprise agreement’s dispute resolution procedures the FAAA wrote to Mark Hassell on 1 October 2013 and asked that he review Cabin Crew management’s decision to reduce the allowances. We received his reply on 10 October 2013 in which he stood by the decision of the company to reduce the allowances in part justifying the decision on the basis that the new cash allowance was more than adequate to compensate crew for meals purchased at the hotel. We maintained throughout the EBA negotiations that crew allowances are meant to enable crew to purchase meals in the city – and not just at the hotel. Our philosophical approach to this is based on the view that crew ought to be able to leave the hotel and not just be restricted to menu offerings provided by one restaurant. And we maintain this position. Following the Company’s decision to uphold the reduction of allowances, the FAAA then filed a dispute before the Fair Work Commission. As part of our submissions we filed copies of all letters between the Company and the Association and these are on public record as part of the proceedings before the Fair Work Commission, including those to senior management and Mark Hassell. An initial conference was held on 1 November 2013 with a view to try and settle the dispute. Regrettably, the Company chose not to settle on the terms required by the FAAA and hence the matter will be arbitrated next week and the decision will be binding on both parties. How can I help? And now we need your help. We have heard that the hotel has recently increased menu prices and room service charges. We need evidence of this to be sent to us urgently and before next Tuesday’s Fair Work Commission hearing. If you’re currently in LA or will be there in the next day, please help us by sending either by email ([email protected]) or fax: +61 2 8337 1122 a copy of the latest menu and room service prices. We’d also like to know what the menu prices are like at any of the restaurants that you dine at in proximity to the hotel to assist us compare the actual cost of eating whilst in LA. Non-members – isn’t it time to start doing your share? For those non-members out there, it’s disheartening to hear them say that they haven’t joined the FAAA because ‘at the end of the day, whatever the union wins for crew, non-members get the benefits also’. This is true, but what would things look like during a flight if a crew member said that they’re weren’t going to do a service or other tasks ‘because at the end of the day, someone else will do it for me’. Such an attitude is galling, especially when considering cabin crew as a group are generally speaking caring, gregarious, compassionate people with a genuine interest in their fellow workmate’s well being and accordingly, their work conditions who very often go above and beyond the call of duty to lend a hand to help out their workmates. If you’re a non-member reading this newsletter, isn’t it time to start supporting your colleagues who have done all the heavy lifting to date? Membership is easy, affordable, fully tax-deductible and provides protection across all areas of your employment. And in terms of this current LA Allowance dispute, you know that the FAAA will always seek to uphold your conditions. To join, simply call the FAAA International on 02 8337 1111 or visit our website: faaa.net .
Posted on: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 07:18:52 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015