I originally posted this on another thread.
Originally Posted by Agent Mulder
What no one cares to define is what is the "Market"?
There are 300 JQ Pilots, 400
VB Pilots and about 100 NJS Pilots flying jets in Australia. Total of 800.
There are 2500 Qantas Pilots flying jets in Australia.
Total 3300.
Qantas Pilots are 76% of "the Market".
Therefore, by any reasoned argument, Qantas Pilots are the "Market". The other 24% are earning below market salaries and therefore are to be supported in their attempts to bring their salaries up to meet the market, not the opposite.
Standing by for reasoned argument.
I do not agree that this is the conditions for Qantas Pilots going forward, and not just for the reason stated above.
Qantas Pilots have a binding Certified Agreement. Binding on the Pilots and the Company. They cannot ignore it! Nor can they throw it out without substantial consequences detrimental to the business.
What Qantas Pilots have to do right now is send the message to the Board and others that whilst Jetstar Pilots are prepared to work for the conditions they have negotiated, Qantas Pilots are not.
Any amount of posturing by the management is worthless if the Pilots determine that they are prepared to stand up for their negotiated terms and conditions. Show them that you are prepared to negotiate, but you are not going to be dictated to on the future of YOUR profession and the quality of life of your family.
You are 76% of the Jet Pilots in Australia. You have the numbers and the ability to control the outcome.
Look for fat in the Certified Agreements that make you more productive i.e. increased divisors, less restrictive open time allocation, home transport for being paxed in business class (please!), just to name a few. Remember an increase in productivity comes with an increase in salary. Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate.
Tread carefully, don't be brash, and for peat's sake stop abusing others for negotiating a deal to the best of their ability. At least they are negotiating, and at least they have a deal. They did the best they could with what they had. Deal with it and move on. You do not have to work for those conditions.
Whenever anyone hears someone saying that this sets the benchmark for the future, ask why? It is a fundamentally flawed argument that 300 JQ pilots set "Market Rates" for 2500 QF Pilots with a fleet size 600% larger. It is a conditioning line used by managers to attempt to make you believe their position. Remember to ask them why they think that, and stand by for a blank stare or a fluffy stumble of words.
You know what you have available to deal with, there's a deal to be done and it can be as painless as you want it to be. Be cognisant of the fact that if you don't change, you may lose control of the agenda.
It's up to you to determine how YOU want your future to be.