Originally Posted by
ANCDU
If a large number of crew hadn’t gone to other airlines on LWOP, MOU’s etc there would have been significant redundancies. This was all happening while Jetconnect went merrily on its way....
There would have been redundancies...mostly voluntary...but if some were compulsory Jetconnect could have continued ‘merrily’ but no further growth in Jetconnect would have been possible... As per the Fairwork Act.
At the risk of flogging the dead horse...you cannot simultaneously make employees redundant in a higher cost area and recruit in the lower cost area.
So to flog the dead horse because clearly some just don’t get it... the moment a Mainline pilot was made redundant, Jetconnect growth (in this case), if any, would have to stop and the Trans Tasman flying not already crewed by Jetconnect would be crewed by Mainline. This, as per the Act, would have to continue until such time as the most junior person made redundant was reemployed. This also means any attrition in Jetconnect could not be replaced...instead the flying be returned to Mainline.
The consequences for Qantas of making a pilot redundant are far more expensive than just the wages involved. It is complicated, it has flow on effects and as we have seen QF were willing to try and walk on water to prevent it. And it has nothing to do with coming across as a good employer I can promise you.