Qantas Grounds Entire Fleet

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Discussion

Olf

11,974 posts

219 months

Saturday 29th October 2011
quotequote all
CDP said:
Olf said:
It's a shocker for sure. Industrial relations in Aus are straight out of 70's Britain and probably heading for the same confrontations.

As an regular international air traveller I do believe that airline staff need to get over themselves. They seem to have forgotten they're there to provide a service and that that service is actually pretty mundane now and almost universally (Asian characters aside) very poorly delivered despite some shocking prices. I've flown qwantarse a lot over the last few years and to be honest they're an international national express. Not very impressive at all. Safety record aside I'd avoid wherever possible and this bonkers display only adds to that position.
Don't worry. I seriously doubt you'll be able to use them for much longer.
Nah, not going to fold. The Aussie gov't won't let that happen. As a discussion point though I'd usually be against a reduction in the levels of market competition but with the airline industry it makes no difference - one of the biggest stitch ups going.

EDLT

15,421 posts

207 months

Saturday 29th October 2011
quotequote all
Olf said:
CDP said:
Olf said:
It's a shocker for sure. Industrial relations in Aus are straight out of 70's Britain and probably heading for the same confrontations.

As an regular international air traveller I do believe that airline staff need to get over themselves. They seem to have forgotten they're there to provide a service and that that service is actually pretty mundane now and almost universally (Asian characters aside) very poorly delivered despite some shocking prices. I've flown qwantarse a lot over the last few years and to be honest they're an international national express. Not very impressive at all. Safety record aside I'd avoid wherever possible and this bonkers display only adds to that position.
Don't worry. I seriously doubt you'll be able to use them for much longer.
Nah, not going to fold. The Aussie gov't won't let that happen. As a discussion point though I'd usually be against a reduction in the levels of market competition but with the airline industry it makes no difference - one of the biggest stitch ups going.
Union members in this country thought the same thing about the mines/steelworks/BL/docks etc. It might not go bust because of this, but if the government steps in will it eventually end the same way as many of the UK's industries?

johnfm

13,668 posts

251 months

Saturday 29th October 2011
quotequote all
dandarez said:
Funk said:
You've got to admire the balls of the management for this. If the workers don't like their jobs, they're free to go work elsewhere. They should not be allowed to cripple a business and hold it to ransom.

In a way it's good for those travelling too; they know where they stand rather than wondering whether their flight may or may not be happening. Qantas are also refunding all cancelled flights.

Gutsy decision-making!
Typical PH response!
Gutsy?
This is a suicidal decision by Joyce.
Balls? he doesn't have balls, he is a boss of the lowest order, who just wants cheap labour and outsourcing of his workers and pilots jobs to Asia.
AND right at the time Commonwealth leaders are in Aussie, including Her Majesty (mind you she won't have been on a Qantas flight) but some leaders have been stranded apparently.

This will backfire big time. It already has.
You can be anti-union but you don't take decisions like this unless you are totally mad.
He has simply created total chaos. He's a cretin!

And he has played right into the hands of Qantas biggest rival, VIRGIN (Australia) who will love this.
And already are!
How different, an airline run by 'intelligent' people at the top!
A Virgin Australia spokesperson has said that immediately, it is bringing in extra staff and planes to accommodate Qantas's stranded passengers all over the world.

Special counters had been set up for passengers stranded in Aussie and around the world.
"We have dedicated counters, in all the airports around the country we have extra staff coming in at the moment."
Customers are being asked to visit the Virgin website, which has been especially set up for Qantas passengers wanting to book a seat.
"We will also have 'special fares' for those Qantas people".
"This is a real priority for us."

Very intelligently again, it was added:

"We do have a good relationship with our union, we constantly work with them and our staff and we'll continue to do so."

As someone said earlier the Qantas decision is 'suicide'.
Heh

I expect the 'extra staff'Virgin lay on are paid less than the striking union labour.

As I understand it, QANTAS employees are a bit like BA employees - paid more than any others in the industry.

fk 'em.

audidoody

8,597 posts

257 months

Saturday 29th October 2011
quotequote all
I'm booked Qantas to BKK (ha!) at Christmas. I remember telling the travel agent "anything but BA. They'll be on strike".

rolleyes

To paraphrase Butch and Sundance.

"Strike? Hell, the snow on the runway will get you first"

Bugeyeandy

10,870 posts

198 months

Saturday 29th October 2011
quotequote all
johnfm said:
Heh

I expect the 'extra staff'Virgin lay on are paid less than the striking union labour.

As I understand it, QANTAS employees are a bit like BA employees - paid more than any others in the industry.

fk 'em.
Is this the striking union labour that isn't actually on strike? The shorthaul pilots who despite not being in dispute with the company and depsite making vast sums of money for Qantas have been grounded and will be locked out and unpaid for merely being members of the pilots union. How about the Licenced Engineers who have admittedly been refusing overtime as a form of action (although this action stopped 3 weeks ago). How about the thousands of other members of the Qantas workforce whose jobs are now under threat because of this totally unnecessary shutdown of the entire airline.

If, as you state, they are paid more than others in the industry (any evidence?) then what does this have to do with the dispute? The action taken so far has been in reaction to Qantas management shuffling more and more lucrative flights away from it's mainline business and onto the subsidiary Jetstar which is funded entirely from the profits of Qantas.

I think to be fair the aussie workers have been handling themselves very well so far and this really stinks of a deliberate attempt to bankrupt the airline and start afresh. I can't think of another reason you'd put the ex Jetstar CEO (also ex Ansett) in charge and give him a multi million dollar pay packet at a time when the business is overall loosing money and not improving. It's an expensive business keeping a 2nd airline afloat from the profits of your main business, I'll be interested to see if it manages to stay afloat without the money coming in from Qantas.

Don't try and compare this to the BA dispute, that was merely a small section of cabin crew getting upset about modernisation. This is something much worse for the entire 35000 strong workforce and something they've been trying very hard to resolve.

Pommygranite

Original Poster:

14,264 posts

217 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
Bugeyeandy said:
Is this the striking union labour that isn't actually on strike? The shorthaul pilots who despite not being in dispute with the company and depsite making vast sums of money for Qantas have been grounded and will be locked out and unpaid for merely being members of the pilots union. How about the Licenced Engineers who have admittedly been refusing overtime as a form of action (although this action stopped 3 weeks ago). How about the thousands of other members of the Qantas workforce whose jobs are now under threat because of this totally unnecessary shutdown of the entire airline.

If, as you state, they are paid more than others in the industry (any evidence?) then what does this have to do with the dispute? The action taken so far has been in reaction to Qantas management shuffling more and more lucrative flights away from it's mainline business and onto the subsidiary Jetstar which is funded entirely from the profits of Qantas.

I think to be fair the aussie workers have been handling themselves very well so far and this really stinks of a deliberate attempt to bankrupt the airline and start afresh. I can't think of another reason you'd put the ex Jetstar CEO (also ex Ansett) in charge and give him a multi million dollar pay packet at a time when the business is overall loosing money and not improving. It's an expensive business keeping a 2nd airline afloat from the profits of your main business, I'll be interested to see if it manages to stay afloat without the money coming in from Qantas.

Don't try and compare this to the BA dispute, that was merely a small section of cabin crew getting upset about modernisation. This is something much worse for the entire 35000 strong workforce and something they've been trying very hard to resolve.
You work for Qantas don't you?


Derek Smith

45,689 posts

249 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
I've never thought it a good tactic when under threat to commit suicide.

The motive behind this shutting down of Qantas is not to bring the unions back to the negotiating table. That much is patently obvious. The only question is: What?

Seems a massive risk to me. I would guess that this action has done more harm to Qantas that the union action. There are so many arilines to choose from. Mind you, it looks as if there will be one less quite soon.

A14RGS

229 posts

173 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
Let's view it from a paying passenger's perspective...

I'm currently in Melbourne, having been working here for three months, and am booked to fly back home to the UK with QANTAS on Wednesday, arriving on Thursday in readiness to leave for eldest son's stag weekend on Friday.
I'm booked via the company's travel agents and the missus is here via my own direct booking with BA (who's flights are also with QANTAS, i.e. we're on the same flight).

We're now sitting here waiting to hear if a positive outcome is likely to arise from the 'Fair Work Australia' meeting ongoing now between unions, QANTAS etc.
We don't want to rashly cancel our flights with a view to booking elsewhere if there's a strong chance that aircraft will be airborne in the next day or two, but neither can we just sit and do nothing. Missus is already wound up!!
I'm inclined to bite the bullet and make alternative bookings, then sort out the costs, refunds erc later. I'll welcome your thoughts please.

I have to say that I think Alan Joyce has done the right thing - I just wish he hadn't done it now!!

grumbledoak

31,545 posts

234 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
I seem to remember a film called "Ransom", and some government policies regarding not not being held to it.

Good on him. Mel Gibson might have gone a bit strange, but I think telling them to fk right off is the right approach.

ETA- I do sympathize with those caught in the crossfire.

Edited by grumbledoak on Sunday 30th October 08:32

Bugeyeandy

10,870 posts

198 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
Pommygranite said:
You work for Qantas don't you?
Nope

Pommygranite

Original Poster:

14,264 posts

217 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
Bugeyeandy said:
Pommygranite said:
You work for Qantas don't you?
Nope
Pro labor/union?

Eric Mc

122,053 posts

266 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
Bugeyeandy said:
Eric Mc said:
Right - where's my PC bible gone.....
Not required Eric, he is a homosexual and he is Irish.
Is that relevant to the discussion?

anonymous-user

55 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
Pommygranite said:
Pro labor/union?
Keep digging, He might be a communist or something!

Bugeyeandy

10,870 posts

198 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Is that relevant to the discussion?
Sorry Dad

Eric Mc

122,053 posts

266 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
Bugeyeandy said:
Eric Mc said:
Is that relevant to the discussion?
Sorry Dad
Meaning?

Bugeyeandy

10,870 posts

198 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
Meaning sorry that I posted something in jest that didn't meet your approval.

Anything you'd like to add to thread on the subject in hand rather than picking on me?


Bugeyeandy

10,870 posts

198 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
el stovey said:
Pommygranite said:
Pro labor/union?
Keep digging, He might be a communist or something!
Yes, that's right. If you have a differing opinon than the usual PH feeding frenzy as soon as the word strike is mentioned that makes you a sour faced bull nosed union touting communist.

Let me repeat what I stated above, no pilots have been on strike. The shorthaul pilots are not in dispute with the company. The engineers' industrial action revolved around refusing overtime. For this the CEO of this huge company has effectively shut it down completely.

I personally find it strange that people find this acceptable.

voyds9

8,489 posts

284 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
Bugeyeandy said:
The action taken so far has been in reaction to Qantas management shuffling more and more lucrative flights away from it's mainline business and onto the subsidiary Jetstar which is funded entirely from the profits of Qantas.
So you agree the Unions should be telling the owners how to run the business.

Bugeyeandy

10,870 posts

198 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
voyds9 said:
So you agree the Unions should be telling the owners how to run the business.
Nope but on the same point I don't believe that the Unions (who look after workers interests) should sit back and do nothing.

Please also if you quote me, have the decency to quote my whole post not just pick out bits.

What do you think the Unions should do?

Eric Mc

122,053 posts

266 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
quotequote all
Bugeyeandy said:
Meaning sorry that I posted something in jest that didn't meet your approval.

Anything you'd like to add to thread on the subject in hand rather than picking on me?
Sorry son.