QANTAS maintenance workers are taking the national carrier to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) over the airline's move to service jets overseas.
Qantas angered the workers earlier this month with a decision to service one of its jets in Singapore while it winds down its Sydney maintenance base and moves it to Avalon, in Victoria, to save costs.
Members of the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) are also concerned about reports two more jets will be serviced overseas, the association's industrial manager Chris Ryan said today.
He said Qantas (qan.ASX:Quote,News) had failed to respond to ALAEA's request asking the airline to confirm its maintenance plans.
Qantas executive general manager Kevin Brown last week said the airline had signed a deal with a Hong Kong-based company to service a second jet.
He indicated Qantas (qan.ASX:Quote,News) was also considering a similar arrangement with a Swiss company.
Mr Ryan said the maintenance workers would argue at the AIRC today that Qantas has not followed the agreed protocols on outsourcing set out in the enterprise agreement.
He said Qantas (qan.ASX:Quote,News) had also failed to consider options for keeping the work in Australia.
The capacity to do the work still exists in Australia, Mr Ryan said.
"Qantas has an obligation under our enterprise agreement to explore options for keeping maintenance in Australia. Qantas has not done that," Mr Ryan said.
"The tools still exist in Sydney, the skills still exist in Sydney, the hangar still exists in Sydney – the work can be done here."
The maintenance workers will protest outside the IRC office in central Sydney before their hearing today.
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(20min delay)