AEI EXPRESSES CONCERNS OVER TREATMENT OF QANTAS ENGINEERS

The Aircraft Engineers International (AEI) has expressed concern that a Qantaslink airline (Sunstate) has deducted pay from over 20 Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers salaries. The union believes the pay was deducted after their professional judgement determined aircraft defects needed to be corrected before further flight in order to maintain required levels of airworthiness and safety. However Qantas maintains that the reason for the dock in pay was unprotected industrial action. A claim the AEI denies. AEI General Secretary Fred Bruggeman says: “Punitive action taken against aviation safety professionals raising legitimate safety issues cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. Safety may