New GETG clearly identifies trades as individual skills sets

In 1993 the Royal Australian Air Force began an ambitious restructure of several non-aircraft technical trades aiming for considerable benefits including multi-skilling, improved career paths, and aligning training with employment needs.

The result was the creation of the Ground Support Engineering Mustering. This mustering consisted of two streams with distinct skill sets being, Heavy Vehicle (HV) maintenance and General Engineering (GE).

Despite the best intentions of the restructure, Air Force management had considerable difficulty managing the GSE workforce based on a common employment profile.

The functions of the two GSE streams were not fully interchangeable; and as a consequence (HV) and (GE) became pseudo musterings for career management and employability purposes.

As a result of these difficulties, a Small Trades Working Group (STWG) was formed to review the GSE trade group.

Based on the advice of the STWG the Chief of Air Force Advisory Committee (CAFAC) authorised the formation of the Ground Support Engineering Trade Restructure Implementation Project (GSETRIP) team.

This team was tasked to develop, implement and present the restructure to the Employment Category Review Committee (ECRC) for endorsement. In September 1999 the ECRC endorsed the restructure.

The next step was to present the restructure to the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT).

A submission for the DFRT was developed within the Directorate of (Australian Defence Force) Salary and Allowances with the assistance of the trade sponsors, Flight Lieutenant Paul White and Warrant Officer Aviation Technician Aircraft Glenn Howard, from Directorate General Technical Airworthiness (DGTA).

This new trade structure, titled the Ground Engineering Trade Group, abolishes existing musterings and importantly, clearly identifies the HV and GE trades as individual skill sets.

The revised structure consists of the following skill grades and musterings:

Ground Support Equipment

• Ground Support Equipment Fitter (GSEFITT Grades 1 and 2), from the former GSEFITT (HV); and
• Ground Support Equipment Technician (GSETECH), GSEFITT2s that have completed the GSETECH course.
• Ground Mechanical Engineering
• Ground Mechanical Engineering Fitter (GMEFITT Grades 1 and 2), formerly GSEFITT (GE); and
• Ground Mechanical Engineering Technician (GMETECH), existing METMACHs and for those that have completed the Advanced Aircraft Machining Course (ADACMACH).
• Ground Support Engineering Manager
• Ground Support Engineering Manager (GSEMGR Grades 1 and 2) who will remuster at the FSGT rank level and be capable of managing all work from the GSE and GME trades.

The DFRT dispensed with a pre-hearing on-site inspection, in response to a recommendation from the ADF, on the basis that the submission itself contained sufficient evidence to represent the RAAF's position. The Tribunal went further and accepted a written submission, waiving a full formal hearing in Canberra. With the cooperation of the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, the Armed Forces Federation and the RSL, resolution was rapid with the matter being Determined (legislated) on 20 December 2001.

Transition
Members of the GSE trade group with (HV) qualifications will be remustered to the GSE mustering at their applicable skill grade level.

Members of the GSE trade group with (GE) qualifications will be remustered to the GME mustering at their applicable skill grade levels.

The existing METMACH mustering will be disbanded and remaining METMACH personnel will be remustered to the GMETECH mustering.

FSGTs and WOFFs will be remustered to GSEMGR. FSGTs will be either mustered to Grade 1 or 2 dependant upon their skill level and experience.

RAAF Reserve arrangements
The trade names determined by the DFRT in 1993 will remain for a short period to allow for transition of reserve personnel to the new structure. DRES staff will complete this activity.

There are too many people who have worked on the project over the years to thank personally; but special mention must be made of the STWG, the GSETRIP and the senior members of the trade group at Williamtown, Amberley and Richmond and members of the Directory of Salary and Allowances.

For more information, contact WOATA Glenn Howard on (03) 9256 3072 or e-mail: Glenn.Howard@defence.gov.au