It would be fair to say that emotions run high in the forum mainly because people are afraid for their futures.
If it were possible to have a rational debate on the subject of the policies of the FAAA without the resort to personal invective it would be a miracle because of the level of personal hatred and envy that exists in some here. But i will try one last time and then i will go and enjoy 3mths long service leave....
There has been considerable critisism of the encumbent FAAA officials. One would think that the job of a long haul flight attendant is at an all- time low, but no one can raise anything other than the JFK dispensation to lay at the feet of the FAAA.
Lets take things into proper perspective...
Overseas bases-
The partial demise of the Long Haul Division started with the introduction of the overseas based crew. If crew had stood up at that time and fought a pitched battle perhaps including some form of direct action we may not be so industrially weakened now. THE current leadership of the FAAA were not running the FAAA then
Long Service Leave Assignment-
One of the most vexing things about life at the moment is the assignment of LSL. This is regulated by state laws and not part of our EBA. The assignment of leave is out of the control of the FA
Reduced Flying -
As would be abundantly clear to all, we have jetstar, australian airlines and short haul. All of whom flying 20-30% more hours than Long Haul for less money. That is why our flying is going.
The current leadership of the FAAA inherited the worst EBA since they started in the early 90's and have been cleaning up the residue of that ever since.
The easiest way to make the long haul division more relevant is to become cost effective, and be at the bargaining table to reach agreements.
Those that feel that the FAAA now is giving things away need to list those things.
Its easy to be generraly unhappy, but let's put things into perspective. There has been no wholesale reduction in conditions.
Wage rates are the highest in the industry, our meal allowances are so much higher than those of others that they will give them our work to save the money.
The real challenge will be to address these things in EBA8.
If job security and maintanance of income is important then we will need to see what crew are prepared to do to keep it.
It's easy to talk tough in here. But other than negitiation and compromise the only effective tool of flight attendants is direct industrial action.
over 60% of flight attendants are women. Industrially non agressive by nature. Most flight attendants are so heavily geared financially that they wouldnt take more than a couple of days action even when it is legal.
If a new team wants to take over the management of the fAAA and responsibility for crew conditions and job security they will have to offer something other than rhetoric and critisism of others.
Despite the grumblings of crew. many of whom totally out of touch with the real world. We are among the highest paid workers in the country. when you take into consideration the fact that we can be replaced with and 18yo for 30% of the average income of long haul crew in a few weeks, i for one wouldnt be tempting Dixon or the new owners to Go for it!!
Anyone that has a real strategy rather than airing their frustration here should be making suggestions to the current officials now not waiting for another team when its too late.
The current officials will be surveying crew and holding meetings as always before the EBA negotiations start.
If it comes back that crew want a miracle then they need to elect a snake oil salesman because as far as i know the current officials will try hard but not promise miracles.
If we didnt have Jetstar, Australian Airlines, Short Haul, and Overseas crew who would willingly absorb all of our work for less money the job would be easy.
Lets face it, when we were riding on a high in the 80's and early 90's none of these were competing with us for our own work. The world for the Qantas Long HAul FLight attendant has changed. And as with all evolution, it will be survival of the fittest.
We either adapt and accept change or we perish.
If anyone out there is telling you that they can do a better job, then listen to what they say. But when you listen, also question them.
How would they deal with the current situation differently.
The pilots have several cases before Federal Court, some of which have already been dismissed. They have deep pockets and one thing that we DONT have.
A marketable skill.
As far as licensing is concerned. Be careful what you wish for. There are benefits to be sure in licenseing. But there are also potential drawbacks. And what is essential is that you need to dot the I's and cross the T's on that.
In relation to where we go from here, i would suggest that management read this more than flight attendants. They see the division and love it. The feed on our internal battles and weaknesses.
There is no doubt that they would like to get rid of 60% of the current crew at least. The challenge will be growing long haul not shrinking it, and whether crew are prepared to accept what needs to be done to achieve that or whether they want to go the way of the dodo