From Leading Company.

“A chief executive’s real job is to provide vision, inspire and create hope for company employees. My job is to provide the tools our staff need to deliver on that vision. An important element is face-to-face communication. I’m on a plane at least once a day. You have to talk to people – they know more about things than you do."

Leading Company - The gospel according to John Borghetti, Virgin CEO (http://m.leadingcompany.com.au/leadership-styles/how-john-borghetti-is-transforming-virgin-australia/201208152120)

So refreshing to finally hear of a CEO who really does seem to practice and preach true leadership values to inspire others.

Will be interesting to see the results unfold compared with the purely spreadsheet-bonus-driven-bean-counting types.

Crew Meals - Sh*t

Duty travel - Economy

There is much work to be done.

None of the changes to date have been Rocket Science.

Vision and Innovation - I don't think so.

I think that people are getting sick of "talk".

Well that didn't take long,

honeymoon over is it?

Looks like Virgin has dropped Hamo:

Virgin Australia Cancels Brisbane – Hamilton Service from late-Oct 2012 | Airline Route – Worldwide Airline Route Updates (http://airlineroute.net/2012/08/15/dj-bnehlz-w12cxld/)

Hamilton NZ that is.

Lets not forget it is not what these CEO's do, but how they do it, which is what people remember. Everyone understands business is business and sometimes tough decisions are needed BUT everyone needs to be treated with respect and dignity.

Therein lies the difference between two CEOs that come to mind.

Reminds me of the time JB called a meeting specifically for Qantas second officers.

At Jetstar start up in May 2004, second officers held many concerns about their futures and prospect of promotion.

JB sweet talked them for an hour. It was magic to watch how he held the group as putty his hands. He related to them that he was related to a Pilot and knew how they thought.

They all left the meeting thinking John would look after them.

He simpathised with their concerns and told them to not fear they were all valuable assets.

What did he do between 2004 until the time he left Qantas.

Sweet FA.

Wasn't JB also heavily involved in the shutting down of Sydney 747 heavy maintenance back in 2006...

It doesn't matter who is at the helm really...

The industry has cancer because people want to fly everywhere for next to nothing. Thats the problem!!!!!

There will be no "Mother Terasa" CEO's coming to anyones rescue anytime soon.

He should be mindful of an old city saying here in London.

The role of the Chairman is;

1. Support the CEO

2. Support the CEO

3. Support the CEO

Then, sack the CEO!

Has he had any ringing endorsements from the Chairman yet?

Regards to all,

BSD

Some of you would be whinging even if Herb Kelleher was CEO of Virgin.

Some of you would be whinging even if Herb Kelleher was CEO of Virgin.

Who's he?........

Who's Herb? Seriously? Whadda 'bout Gordon Bethune ;)

Clue, Southwest Airlines.

Come on.............the guy did buy us a pair of RM Williams boots.

I for one am not overly excited or engaged anymore. Some things never change............

New uniform, business seats etc, but the lack of respect and culture is still there. Just a lot of wonderful words constantly being thrown around, but nothing comes of it.

Dont kid yourself not JB or anyone really care for staff, they have bigger things to worry about..............:hmm:

You can't polish a turd:ugh::ugh:

The way some people carry on Borghetti and Joyce may as well give up even bothering and just get really snarky. And no, they're not there yet. If you think aviation isn't a pleasant industry to work in you should try plenty of others.

When it comes down to it we're all responsible for our own happiness, some people around here need to take a few concrete pills and harden up. Seriously people, you work in a cool industry with plenty of interesting stuff to do, how about you appreciate what you've got a bit more rather than continually bitching about how miserable you are.

Servo, you saidbut the lack of respect and culture is still there
Can you give a couple of examples of both? Serious question.

What a pilot sees in an hour, management won’t see in a week.
From the article. Touche!:ugh:

I always found the crew meals quite tasty, we used to heat them up at the end of the night after we'd stripped the terminating aircraft.
I don't know of too many other industries that provide free food for their staff.

I don't know of too many other industries that provide free food for their staff.

Its a requirement to be fed when you are away from your home base during the designated meal times.

If it were not a legal requirement they wouldn't do it.

As for other industries you must not have been to a mine camp ever!

Icarus, I'll give you one example, it will suffice for the moment. Plenty of promises made for an early wrap up of the EBA. Lots of mouth movement at the time, very little now. To put it simply, the company wants to benchmark our performance with QF. That is plain. Fair enough. However, as far as remuneration and lifestyle is concerned, they obviously use TT and JQ as the benchmark. We're not so stupid as to think QF money is on offer. That isn't, and isn't the point. But going backwards in terms of money and lifestyle is hardly acceptable either. Completely at odds with the "Lip service" paid to the crews early on. Providing a new uniform and saying "We respect what you do", doesn't pay the mortgage or feed the kids. There's the respect element covered.

Well actually leffe

Mythbusters Polishing a Turd - YouTube

or

How to Polish a Turd | Strategies (http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-polish-a-turd/)

:ooh:

Whoa.... they're not wearing gloves !!!

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Reading these responses, anyone would think the only role of the CEO at Virgin should be to make the pilots feel good about themselves and pay them more.

Those that bleat this opinion are welcome to leave. You don't even need to leave Australia. There is 3% unemployment in WA at the moment. Many who talk of being paid less than a mine worker should go there and work. Put your money where your mouth is!

It is a great job, flying neat aircraft , for a good company (on the whole).

If you are that unimpressed with it all - please go!

After 10 years, I am no 'company man', but I still love it here.

If you are that unimpressed with it all - please go!
I did, and life has never been better!!
As for polishing the turd, it is more of a 'toffee coated turd' at VA. Once you lick the top layer of toffee off it is shite underneath!

Oops, I hope I don't get another nasty PM from the HR Manager again. Isn't that right, RT??

Cactus,

If you are no longer at VA then how do you know what is is like?

Or is this just the way you must feel to justify to yourself that life is better?

:hmm:

It's so refreshing to listen to people complaining about something other than Qantas. I need some balanced dread in my life.

Good for you, Cactus. Hope it keeps going well for you. :D

If you are no longer at VA then how do you know what is is like?
Easy, i'm well connected. And as has been brought out already, a turd can't be polished, so to speak.

Or is this just the way you must feel to justify to yourself that life is
better?
Umm, no. Life IS better!! Perhaps it is YOU that is seeking justification?

Benjam, Good for you, Cactus. Hope it keeps going well for you. :DAppreciate the sentiments mate. Likewise, safe flying to you my friend, wherever you may be :ok:

Dear CJ,

I'm so wonderfully happy for you. Please tell me where you work now. What why is it so much better? Is it the pay? The lifestyle? The location? The aircraft? Management?

I take it then Benjam, that you'll be voting yes for more time away from home, more hours, longerdays, longer trips, and less money for it overall? Thought so. I'm also happy where I am. Doesn't mean I have to agree to work more for less, though, does it.:ugh:

PM, disregard Benjam is just a troll. Either that or a management pilot :*

Seriously, people like that help the race to the bottom for our conditions, pathetic, self centered parasites. The only thing they are good at is climbing that greasy pole.

Dear CJ,
I'm so wonderfully happy for you. Please tell me where you work
now. What why is it so much better? Is it the pay? The lifestyle? The location? The aircraft? Management
:=:= No no my friend. I won't reveal such information. You must find your own path through life. I believe 'your lambs are still crying, Clarise'.

PM, disregard Benjam is just a troll. Either that or a management pilot http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/bah.gifSeriously, people like that help the race to the bottom for our conditions, pathetic, self centered parasites. The only thing they are good at is climbing that greasy pole.'
Oh no, such hostility. Where is your flair??

Careful on the race to the bottom stuff. Who were the first 'pay for rating' people in Oz?

Yes,careful......Could have been Impulse perhaps?

I take it then Benjam, that you'll be voting yes for more time away from home, more hours, longerdays, longer trips, and less money for it overall? Thought so. I'm also happy where I am. Doesn't mean I have to agree to work more for less, though, does it

No Porch, I won't be. I also will not be carrying on like a twit about what is still a good job. No job is perfect, but this one is still worth turning up for.

PM, disregard Benjam is just a troll. Either that or a management pilot

Seriously, people like that help the race to the bottom for our conditions, pathetic, self centered parasites. The only thing they are good at is climbing that greasy pole.

Grow up mate. No to both. You bring our whole profession down rabbitting on like that.

Sorry, was there something in my first post that wasn't true Benjam?

Starting money on the embraer is 61 g at present.

It was probably true, porch. That is your first post, isn't it?

Sure, and when I made that post 5 odd years ago, it was true. But you and I both know which post I was referring to. Your avoidance of an answer simply makes it obvious you have no basis to deny the correctness of the post.

Sure, and when I made that post 5 odd years ago, it was true.
Just an attempt at levity, my friend. Chill out!

Sorry, Porch, I don't really know what you're going on about with your reference to the truth.
I thought I clarified my position with this statement:
No Porch, I won't be. I also will not be carrying on like a twit about what is still a good job. No job is perfect, but this one is still worth turning up for.

If you wish to continue bleating, please continue. If you wish to work elsewhere, please do so. If you wish to stay working here, glad to have it.

Just keep in mind that there are plenty of worse jobs, on worse conditions, flying worse aircraft (or not flying anything at all!!). That's the bit that people here seem to forget.

I do not intend to accept or vote for a worse EBA soon. But I do intend to listen to what the negotiators come up with.

I will also not be subscribing to a conspiracy theory that 'they're all out to get us' on the other side of the table. It is a business. They are doing their bit for the business on their side of the negotiations. Let the negotiation run its course before you wind yourself up more.

Happy?

I always found the crew meals quite tasty, we used to heat them up at the end of the night after we'd stripped the terminating aircraft.
I don't know of too many other industries that provide free food for their staff.
And the alcohol tasted good as well. We had the odd enjoyable 'after work' drink on many occasions. We also used to enjoy taking all the caps, beer coolers and trinkets home for friends and family....We did pass on Richard's lame book however, it was only good for using as a fire starter when camping on days off!

Yes CJ, don't miss the lame presents at all. You missed out on Mao's little red book last year or the year before tho!

Hey Porch, What about the stupid camp chairs and the picnic pack?
Yes, it certainly took flair to offer such heartwarming tokens of appreciation to the staff.....

The $100 Westfield voucher was GOLD

Best present I ever got.

The 1000 shares was a nice touch too.

Some people get NOTHING

Some people get NOTHING
Oh how true! All the hard work they put in, sacrifices made, career high's attained and they received a voucher, deck chairs and picnic packs! Also staff received a sense of self satisfaction, they increased the bond of love between employer and employee, they helped deliver a fun and funky service of which Australia desperately needs, they loyally and dutifuly provided a service in which profits were made and bonuses paid to management!!

Yes I can here the cries of joy floating up on high, the crowds go wild and management are worshipped :ok:

Nah CJ, wasn't there for the chairs and such, got the Westfield voucher tho. The misses thought that was orright! I can probly find my copy of Mao's little red book if you want one for the collection! Happy to sacrifice it........