Damn Clever
SYDNEY (MarketWatch) -- Odd forms of industrial action against Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN.AU) continue, with a union representing pilots saying Tuesday that one of its members will fly a plane this week without wearing his cap.
The move comes after two right-handed engineers this month started using tools such as screwdrivers and spanners with their left hands only when performing regular maintenance and safety checks on Qantas aircraft.
Both unions have successfully applied to Australia's workplace tribunal to take several forms of industrial action. If they don't take any action within 30 days they lose their legal protection, prompting them to take tokenistic action to keep their options live.
A single captain of a Boeing 747 flight will take three forms of protected industrial action on a flight later this week, the Australian and International Pilots Association said in a statement.
He will do so by working precisely to flight manual instructions, placing a ban on extending his tour of duty and not wearing his cap.
"AIPA is working hard to make the public aware of what the current management is doing to Qantas, while at the same time being extremely mindful of our number one priority: Qantas passengers," APIA Vice President Richard Woodward said.
Pilots last week started making announcements on flights over planes' public address systems informing passenger's of the union's concerns.
Unions representing pilots, engineers and baggage handlers are concerned about jobs being moved offshore or to contractors and have included job security claims in regular negotiations over pay and conditions.