CASA Says It Will Be Watching Very Carefully

The Australian aviation safety agency CASA has sent a letter to Qantas saying it had better keep an eye on safety during a labor dispute that is expected to be protracted. The letter indicates that Civil Aviation Safety Authority will continue to pay close attention to the airline during the dispute, according to a report in The Australian in conjunction with the Wall Street Journal.

The letter reminds that parties that CASA has no role in labor relations unless safety is potentially compromised. "CASA will continue a high level of audit and surveillance of aviation safety-related activities during industrial actions and will take any necessary actions required to maintain aviation safety," the letter states.

Late last week, The International Pilots Association told the media that Qantas had broken off talks being mediated by Fair Work Australia, and that Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said in a report in Sky News that there would be no quick resolution to the two sides' differences. However, the paper reports that Qantas denies that it has walked away from the talks, which have been going on for over a year.

The core of the dispute is over maintenance contracts and overtime bans by mechanics' unions. Qantas says it is losing contracts because it cannot guarantee deliveries, and could lose more. It is moving some maintenance offshore as a result. The Australian licensed Aircraft Engineers Association disputes that position, saying the airline is working to move maintenance offshore by "stealth" and is using the labor dispute as an excuse.

FMI: www.fwa.gov.au