So what would you have him say? Admit there is a structural shortage? Do you even realise that the very thing you’re trumpeting (Structural Pilot Shortage) is the very thing that the Airlines and Government will use to enhance the skilled visa program.
Sorry Keith the 457 Horse bolted.
What’s AIPA’s position? What public statements have they released? Are they advocating a structural shortage? Or are you the lone wolf and all the unions are wrong?
As for keeping it quiet or 'lone wolf', go and google pilot shortage, it is an open secret.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/5502...ilot-shortage/
https://www.theguardian.com/australi...foreign-flyers
Having actually read the demographic shortage problem which is evident in literally every western economy it is not just pilots in demand.
3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics, Jun 2017
https://www.bls.gov/cps/demographics.htm
Union reps need to read the data and then maybe they will push back.
On this Keith we are in furious agreement:
You bang on about Qantas’ ‘adversarial IR model’. I agree, it's adversarial, so why pretend that it will somehow revert to a more gentlemanly or dare I say progressive approach. Under current management the Marquess of Queensberry Rules don’t apply. If they want adversarial, give them adversarial. You know what it costs to ground an airline, get some mongrel in you and get adversarial.
Until it starts costing them on the things they bother counting, union pleas for 'fair play' will be dismissed. It is the shortage that gives pilots leverage, it won't be Australian airline management.