[P7_TOM]

Cash Cow and Productivity.

Canberra Times.

Meantime, federal public servants at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority have been told not to get too excited over news, announced by public service minister Michaelia Cash this week, that the government's 1.5 per cent cap on pay rises had been lifted to 2 per cent.

CASA's chief executive Mark Skidmore told his staff on Thursday that his agency still had to figure out ways to pay for a higher pay rise from within their already stretched budgets and took to crowd-sourcing money-saving ideas from his workers.

"We have made good progress in EA bargaining to date with funding approved for a pay offer of 4.5 per cent over three years without any requirement to remove or reduce entitlements from CASA staff," the chief executive wrote.

"The pay offer is funded by productivity improvements already identified."

"I am currently considering the implications for CASA of this change in Government policy and as always, would welcome your suggestions for any additional areas that CASA could focus on for cost savings."

Workplace union Professionals Australia official Dave Smith said Mr Skidmore's bulletin proved that the government's policy adjustment was just "smoke and mirrors".

"[Senator] Cash's move to increase potential pay increases is "smoke and mirrors" – particularly if Government doesn't give you sufficient funding or "cash" to pay for a better deal," Mr Smith said.

New system – Whereas it only ever took two men twenty hours (each) to confirm that a manufacturer check list matched the flight manual, an additional eight hours to finish the paperwork, eight hours to process and two hours to deliver; you can now expect that doubled – so everyone has a slice of the productive pie.  Then Avmed will double their costs to $150, to ensure your medical comes back within the notional three month limit; and then there’s the Part 61 licence, lots of scope to become more ‘productive’ there.

OST can’t get his head around 87% of his brief, but he’s all over the pay deal negotiation.  WTF, they want more money, we must supply that in return for what they are doing to aviation, grateful like.  Here’s my crowd sourcing idea – sack 75% of the useless sods – that will save some dollars and industry to boot.   Skidmore could volunteer to resign, that would go a long way toward helping, he’s an expensive talking head, G. Thomas could do a better job for half the cost and TV loves him, earn some dollars from advertising.  Win – win.  Less is more.

Bloody Muppets.