If you had to make a short list of things that would make FLID (Frank Lorenzo in Drag) happy - Qantas pilots bickering over representation, and divided between two unions would be very high on it.
Yes on first examination this may appear the case, but in actual fact Qantas and AIPA both OPPOSED the application by the AFAP.
No doubt a discussion challenges some. For those grown ups here 'handling this' you may want to ask yourselves what really is Qantas doing?
- Network and Jetconnect cannot find crew at the rate of remuneration (this is closely guarded but well known in IR/HR)
- Qantas link cannot attract crew at the current level of remuneration
- The 'cadet academy' wants 600 pilots a year. Ask why?
- The 457 visa is quietly being lobbied to be extended to five years.
This is correlated to the emerging scale of a demographic shortage. Qantas domestic will increasingly feel the shortage, flight cancellations are increasing. That is flights scheduled to be operated by Qantas domestic 737 pilots on the Domestic pilot award.
IATA had a recent conference where responses to the structural shortage were discussed. Ask whether Qantas was there? They do not think this up by themselves.
- There are insufficient Qantas pilots 'bidding' to go to 737
- The directive is that all Qantas Q seniority will be 'pushed through' the 737 fleet.
The target of all this positioning is the control of domestic flying by Australian domiciled, remunerated, union covered Qantas pilots.
Direct entry on to 737 by contract 457 pilots( perhaps) may well be the target
Management are playing chess, the response to date suggests at best checkers...again