FOR MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 1989
I am concerned that there is clearly confusion among
pilots formerly employed by Ansett and Australian
Airlines on certain important issues. This was evident
during my discussions with a group of former pilots last
Friday, and has been reinforced in a subsequent
conversation involving a senior officer in my Department.
The Government therefore wishes to reiterate firmly its
position first on the right of pilots employed by the
airlines to be represented by a union of their choice,
and second on the ability of pilot employees to seek
changes to the current contracts on offer.
My Government has always accepted that pilot employees
can be represented by a union of their choice. My
Government is philosophically committed to the right of
employees to be represented by unions.
Which union represents pilots employed by the two
airlines is a matter for those pilots themselves.
Former pilots considering re-employment need have no
concerns as to their right to be represented by a union,
and clearly there are established procedures for any
union that represents pilots employed by the airlines to
put arguments as to the form of award conditions.
The decision of the Industrial Relations Commission ( IRC)
of 10 October, 1989 is central and quite straightforward.
In that decision the IRC said that, " in our view, it
would be appropriate for the AFAP to make application to
be bound by th~ e awards at an appropriate time provided
the bans on seeking employment with the companies are
lifted, providjed that the AFAP is prepared to undertake
to accept decisions of the Commission and provided the
AFAP is prepared to give the, necessary undertakings
required by the National Wage Case decision".
Further, and relating specifically to any concerns about
the current contracts or awards on offer, the Commission
said " the AFAP indicated that it would wish to put
arguments as to the form of any awards if it were made
respondent to those awards. That opportunity would, of
course, be available to the AFAP if it were successful in
an application to be bound by the awards"
33801'
2
In other words the IRC has made very clear in it's
October decision how the AFAP could, if it so chose, seek
to be involved in the industrial relations affairs of
the airline industry. First, accept the three conditions
laid down by the IRC ise. lift its bans, accept the
decisions of the Commission and give the undertakings
required by the National Wage Case decision no more and
no less than required of any other organisation. Second,
then seek to be bound by the award. Third, in those
circumstances it is entirely open to the AFAP to present
arguments about the award.
That this opportunity and course of action-is open to the
AFAP leading to the AFAP having the ability to present
arguments about the award itself has clearly not got
through to individual pilots. It is important that they
accurately understand the position.
For its part the Government has made clear that it fully
accepts both the right of employees to be represented by
a union of their choice and the position taken by the IRC
concerning a potential role for such a union. 33 8 1
4