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Qantas review sparks fears for 300 maintenance jobs at Avalon Qantas review sparks fears for 300 maintenance jobs at Avalon
(about 9 hours later)
Qantas has announced a review of its aircraft maintenance work at Avalon in Victoria, triggering union fears of up to 300 remaining engineering jobs being made redundant.Qantas has announced a review of its aircraft maintenance work at Avalon in Victoria, triggering union fears of up to 300 remaining engineering jobs being made redundant.
The Australian Workers Union says the announced operations review is code for closure and flags another move towards moving jobs offshore.The Australian Workers Union says the announced operations review is code for closure and flags another move towards moving jobs offshore.
The union's Victorian secretary, Ben Davis, said the future looked bleak for the 300 maintenance engineers employed at Avalon.The union's Victorian secretary, Ben Davis, said the future looked bleak for the 300 maintenance engineers employed at Avalon.
"We know from experience that when Qantas does a review, jobs go," he said. "Avalon does overflow maintenance from the Qantas centre in Brisbane. The only place at least some of that work could go would be overseas if this review leads to closure.""We know from experience that when Qantas does a review, jobs go," he said. "Avalon does overflow maintenance from the Qantas centre in Brisbane. The only place at least some of that work could go would be overseas if this review leads to closure."
Davis said Geelong had suffered with the closure of Ford and from threats to the Shell oil refinery and the Alcoa smelter at Point Henry.Davis said Geelong had suffered with the closure of Ford and from threats to the Shell oil refinery and the Alcoa smelter at Point Henry.
"It is a disgrace that we are being forced to watch the destruction of an important and strategic skills base," he said."It is a disgrace that we are being forced to watch the destruction of an important and strategic skills base," he said.
Last November 263 redundancies were announced at Avalon, and the Tullamarine heavy maintenance facility has been closed, with the loss of 422 jobs. But Qantas says no final decision has been made as the review at Avalon begins.Last November 263 redundancies were announced at Avalon, and the Tullamarine heavy maintenance facility has been closed, with the loss of 422 jobs. But Qantas says no final decision has been made as the review at Avalon begins.
The airline's domestic chief executive, Lyell Strambi, said in a statement the Avalon maintenance centre was becoming "subscale and inefficient".The airline's domestic chief executive, Lyell Strambi, said in a statement the Avalon maintenance centre was becoming "subscale and inefficient".
Strambi said retiring Qantas Boeing 747s was reducing the workload at the facility and it would soon replace the planes with next generation aircraft.Strambi said retiring Qantas Boeing 747s was reducing the workload at the facility and it would soon replace the planes with next generation aircraft.
From March, maintenance would not be scheduled for five months of the year over four years, he said.From March, maintenance would not be scheduled for five months of the year over four years, he said.
"We will invite our employees, unions and other parties to sit down and discuss the challenges and look at potential options for our Avalon base," he said."We will invite our employees, unions and other parties to sit down and discuss the challenges and look at potential options for our Avalon base," he said.
Strambi said a decision would be made after October, when discussions with employees had been completed.Strambi said a decision would be made after October, when discussions with employees had been completed.
He said irrespective of the outcome of the review, Qantas would continue to do the vast majority of its maintenance in Australia, employing thousands of people.He said irrespective of the outcome of the review, Qantas would continue to do the vast majority of its maintenance in Australia, employing thousands of people.
"Qantas is the only major airline which does heavy maintenance at its own facilities in Australia, and this will continue to be the case into the future," he said."Qantas is the only major airline which does heavy maintenance at its own facilities in Australia, and this will continue to be the case into the future," he said.
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