LOCAL LIFE
RAAF Airbus engineers being ‘ stripped ’ in ongoing pay dispute
For months 100 engineers at RAAF Base Richmond have been embroiled in an ongoing pay dispute with their employer Airbus Australia Pacific , which saw them finally being locked out of the base late July when they downed tools for intermittent periods of industrial action .
The aircraft engineers , which maintain the Australian ’ s Army ’ s fleet of C-130 Hercules heavy lift aircraft , are disputing their pay and work conditions . Their colleagues at RAAF bases in Brisbane , Oakey , Townsville , Darwin , and Holsworthy are paid more .
AWU members said they have not received a pay increase in 18 months and voted to reject a 2.5 per cent increase offered to them by Airbus as it was below the industry standard which is a minimum of 3.1 per cent .
According to the AWU NSW , in May the workers were asked to trade their pay rise for a pair of pants and last month , the company wanted to take away their boots in exchange for back pay .
“ I ’ ve never seen a company so fixated on employee ’ s clothing , it ’ s a bit weird if you ask me ,” AWU NSW Branch Secretary Tony Callinan said .
“ Usually in negotiations we talk about annual pay rises , overtime arrangements and the like , not clothes , offering pants one minute , asking workers to give up boots the next .”
Macquarie MP Susan Templeman , who had met with the workers during a one-hour stoppage in early July agreed , saying it was a privilege to meet with and support the men who had not seen a pay rise in more than 18 months .
“ Recently the company offered them an increase in their clothing allowance from three pairs of trousers or shorts to four – an extra pair of pants – to accept a small pay increase ,” Ms Templeman said .
“ It ’ s fair to say that the Hercs are a much-loved part of the Hawkesbury , and these are the skilled engineers who keep them flying . They are also not a group who takes industrial action lightly .
“ Every hour of stopped work is an hour of lost pay , and that is something people only do when they feel they ’ re being treated unfairly . They deserve respect , and genuine negotiation , and I hope this is resolved soon .”
The AWU said the 100 engineers at the Richmond RAAF base were offered a substandard deal which offered them 7.5 % over 3 years ( 2.8 %, 2.35 %, 2.35 %). Engineers unanimously voted against the deal in December last year .
The company upped its offer but that was also rejected by the workforce in a vote in June . Since the second formal
Hawkesbury Fest is back !
Hawkesbury Fest is back ! Your free community event is hosted by Hawkesbury City Council to connect the Hawkesbury community and celebrate what Council does in our community .
Local Government Week 2023 will be held from 31 July to 6 August and Hawkesbury Fest will be held on Sunday , 6 August from 10am to 3pm at Governor Phillip Park , Windsor .
Bring your family and friends to the Hawkesbury riverside to see the exciting demonstration by RuffTRACK sponsored by Bush ’ s Proteins – a division of AJ Bush and Sons ; thanks also to event sponsors Kombi Keg Northwest ; Cafe Cornerstone , Total Hearing Windsor , Lily Home Collective and Bendigo Bank North Richmond and Bendigo Bank Richmond . Get ready to enjoy free amusement rides , kids ’ activities , free face painting PLUS :
• over 20 local markets stalls
• 12 food and beverages trucks / stalls
• over 15 community group information stalls including a local Emergency Services display
• 12 Council information stalls including o a bike N blend activity with our road safety team and o a Revolve Recycling bike repair workshop –‘ check and tune ’ activity
• fun fitness challenges with the YMCA including planking and a magnetic fish activity for the kids
• live music by local artists
• roving entertainment
• free workshops by Messy Makers – sand art and dry messy and sensory play .
Come along on the Hawkesbury Sustainability
Stroll and meet some of Council ’ s teams :
• Hawkesbury Bushcare and Hawkesbury Community Nursery crew : Collect your passport from the Hawkesbury Bushcare and Community Nursery tent , collect the stamps and then receive free plants or a Community Nursery voucher . A total of 300 free plants and 400 plant vouchers available !
• Arts and Culture : Decorate a tree guard , dig for fossils , make stars and comets .
• ‘ Spin the Wheel ’ for the chance to win prizes !
• Sustainability : Engage with our sustainability team with a Sustainable Stories activity .
• Envirocom : Kids will have fun sorting and learning about waste materials , plus a short recycling quiz for adults !
• Resource Recovery : Check-and-tune your bike facilitated by Revolve Recycling . Mechanics will advise customers if their bike needs extensive repairs and appropriate locations to fix it . This Local Government Week event is designed to showcase the work Council does in the local community , including the wide variety of community services available within the Hawkesbury .
Some of the engineers during a one-hour stop work outside the RAAF Base Richmond gates with Macquarie MP Susan Templeman .
vote , the company has offered to increase its offer again if engineers give up their boots and first aid allowance .
Mr Callinan said in industrial disputes , back pay is usually paid automatically if a bargaining period has dragged on beyond the limits of a previous agreement . At the time of going to print , it was still not paid .
The C-130 Hercules military aircraft are considered ‘ the workhorse ’ of the Australian military , transporting troops and cargo across the world and essential to defence operations .
THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 159 // AUGUST 2023 11