Neither LH or SH pilots are currently actively bargaining. Therefore there is no PIA that an be undertaken.
Further, the contract for the 787 is fixed. The rates of pay are known. The operation of the aircraft is on the LH Award. The ordering (or not) of 787s under those circumstances has zero to do with a bunch of pilots having a meeting to discuss Jetconnect and Network. There is no legal action being discussed, considered or even mentioned (except by you Justin Beaver) that has one iota to do with the 787 operation. It’s already set in stone.
If this is actually the case then we have much to fear because it would demonstrate that our management are completely incompetent morons. I’ve already addressed the point about uncertainty regarding the 787 operation so that can’t be it. Now maybe you are actually correct and they actually are incompetent and are making ill advised and ignorant decisions off the back of fundamentally flawed decision making processes.
So which is it? Are they incompetent or was this a deliberate IR strategy?
Spot on Keg!
How inept would these executives look if AIPA were able to get some good press coverage on this.
"Qantas executives have cancelled orders and ruled out ordering any more "game changing" B787's over an industrial dispute that doesn't exist with it's pilots. The 787's are the most fuel efficient commercial aircraft flying today, with over 500 in service with Airlines around the world. Qantas have up to 45 more purchase options on the jets, which it already has in service with Qantas and Jetstar and are being used to replace its aging gas guzzling B747's.
Pilots are concerned about the Qantas move to have foreign pilots fly its mainly domestic B737's, but this has nothing to do with the 787 or the pay and conditions of pilots who fly the 787. Company Executives have briefed pilots that the latest 787 option was cancelled due to disharmony over the use of foreign pilots on the domestic fleet. "Are they incompetent" asks one pilot? Others agree that it makes no sense at all to be cancelling their long haul fleet renewal program over the non-existent dispute.
Shorthaul B737 pilots fear a Trojan Horse maneuver by the Company that has employed foreign pilots to fly its domestic fleet across the Tasman. However, their options are very limited as they are not in an EBA negotiating period and cannot take any kind of legal industrial action. The pilots say, they simply want an assurance from the Company that foreign pilots will not be used to fly the domestic fleet. They are not suggesting Industrial Action now or in the future. However, Company Executives appear to be jumping at shadows already in an action that could only be described as cutting of your nose to spite your face. "Insane action" suggests one Analyst. "It's unbelievable to think Qantas would even consider halting it's much needed fleet renewal as some kind of a threat to pilots who don't even fly the B787. The fact that they are actually doing it? Madness".