I find it hard to see that under those circumstances he can be charged with a breach of the code of conduct whilst representing the voice of the Jetstar pilot group
Unfortunately the president of AIPA, on TV, last night, said quite clearly that although a union rep Joe was, in this case, acting on his own and NOT on behalf of the pilots association.
I suspect there is a little more to Joe's sacking than meets the eye. If the TV report is to be believed Joe rejected the J* offer of arbitration so they have kept it very simple, from the legal point of view. J* have invoked the age old pilot's contractual clause that no employee shall contact the press without prior company approval and no employee shall bring the company into disrepute.
From a purely legal point of view it is game, set and match to J*. I would have thought.
Perhaps the arbitration offer can be reinstated, though I doubt he will get his job back, more likely a cash settlement out of court/tribunal.