Who's Pulling the Strings?
Qantas pilots are planning industrial action after a push for a new pay deal and job security broke down today.
The talks between the pilots union and senior managers led by chief executive Alan Joyce failed with both sides unable to agree on any issue.
In a statement tonight, the The Australian International Airline Pilots Association said Qantas was not prepared to work with its members to provide written job security provisions in return for improved flexibility and productivity.
The union, which represents 2300 pilots employed by the airline, has called meetings of its members in Sydney on Friday and in Melbourne next Monday.
It said management had informed the delegation today that regardless of any efficiencies that pilots offered, no formal job security provision would be written into their agreement with the airline.
Members attending the meetings were expected to discuss how any form of industrial action would proceed, the union said.
Qantas chief pilot Pete Wilson, who attended the meeting as a representative of the airline, said the union’s claims were divisive. He argued that management was not planning to reduce wages but was seeking to reduce costs by increasing productivity.
“Today’s meeting was not productive. AIAPA is seeking commitments under the heading of ‘job security’ that in practice would have precisely the opposite effect,” Capt Wilson said.
“The only way to secure jobs for Qantas pilots is to make Qantas competitive and profitable”.
Cpt Wilson said the combined effect of what the union was seeking would give the pilots a 26 per cent increase in pay and other benefits over three years, equivalent to an 8.15 per cent increase year on year – not the 2.5 per cent they are claiming.
So who is pulling Joyce's Strings?
Smacks of Clifford and Oldmeadow
This is not heading in the right direction
Last edited by Captain.Que; 10th Feb 2011 at 01:52.