Australia’s national airline Qantas announced the opening of a new engineering academy to address a skills gap and prepare aviation engineers for highly specialised positions, as announced by the Electrical Trades Union of Australia.
The union said it will collaborate effectively with Qantas to close these gaps and create plans to promote the manufacture of avionic components here in Australia.
The action should, however, be a part of a bigger national strategy to revive domestic manufacturing in the aerospace and defence sectors, according to ETU.
The union said that to increase the workforce, Qantas and the larger sector must ensure safe, well-paying jobs, adding that Qantas should now commit to investing in the training of skilled individuals and to maintaining its highly trained personnel by establishing stable, well-paying roles.
ETU also pointed out Qantas should make a commitment to spending money on investing in the training of competent people and maintaining its highly qualified workers by creating stable, well-paying employment.
“The moment has come for Qantas to make a commitment to spending money on investing in the training of competent people and to maintaining its highly qualified workers by creating stable, well-paying employment,” ETU said in a media release.
ETU Acting National Secretary Michael Wright said Australia needs a national and comprehensive approach to close the aviation industry’s capability gaps, particularly one that incorporates avionics production.
“There are enormous opportunities to grasp in aviation, space and defence, but we need a high skill base underpinned by secure careers,” Wright stated.
“As a country, we need to be self-reliant, and the Engineering Academy is a big first step in attaining this,” Wright added.
