yes i totally agree with johanna's sentiments. Crew rest seats should be provided on every flight for the reasons that were outlined in that letter.
Unfortunatley just expressing a view does not assist when a company that has no regard for such issues as crew illness, meal breaks and common decency places profit ahead of all these things.
The commission heard all of those arguements it would seem and decided that on a totally legal interpretation of the clause there is not an entitlement to the seat under tours of duty of six hours.
The more interesting point on the bands pay issue is that whilst Shorts hauls treachery in EBA 6 on bands pay had the effect of lowerig the rate of pay for Long Haul Crew who transfered over it in all practicality can only be dealt with in a short haul EBA rather than a Long Haul one.
I cannot see the majority of Long Haul Crew taking some form of action in Long Haul just to get a pay rise for crew in short haul who used to be in Long Haul, or likewise on the offchance that they may one day wish to transfer to short haul.
If there were sufficient ex long haul crew now in short haul affected by this outreagious sell out by short haul crew in EBA6 they should use their numbers in FAAA elections and at meetings of members to remove from office the officials that did this to them, or run for office and replace them and rectiy the problem.
Personally, the running of thee Short Haul Union for years has been like an old ladys tea party. You get a newsletter a couple of times a year abous scones and jam and that's about it.
The majority of Short Haul Flight Attendants are very unhappy with their union. This is not necessarily because they are ineffective, but because they dont communicate at all. Few meetings if ever, non existant newsletters and officials who are invisible and a President that took the london base and still holds office as the domestic regional President while up there.
I think its time that the FAAA long Haul and Short Haul became one union, with one leadership and council and dealt with all Qantas long haul and Short Haul issues as one body. That would really put the wind up a Qantas Management that loves to divide and conquer.
More importantly with Jetstar International About to start up its more important than ever that our FAAA is united and working together. I suggest that each of us and our colleagues puts pressure on LH and SH officials of the FAAA to rejoin together and make us a proper "union" again.
Its unfortunate that previous officials divided the union and were unable to work together. Its time to put aside the past and look to the future though or the only flight attendants with a future will be Jetstar.
Bands Pay, crew rest and meals etc will pale to insignificance if we cant get our act together pretty soon when Jetstar starts up.