Childish............................................Perhaps, but make no mistake this is how bad things start.
JB certainly has earned the benefit of the doubt, but that said, a good manager would have recognised the potential bush fire that this would create at any time, let alone in the midst of a bargaining period.
Keep in mind, this is exactly what QF are in industrial action over. It started for them when AIPA turned a blind eye to Jetstar. Now look where it has led.
What was needed here was genuine consultation with the unions prior, not just a couple of dismissive emails and one meeting. Followed by a quick and dirty agreement that clearly outlined boundaries etc. Everyone happy and trusting each other.
Good fences make good neighbors. Trusting management has no place in industrial relations. Sure, we should trust them to negotiate in good faith etc, but at the end of the day the serious stuff needs to be in writing. Once everyone has walked away from the table and all that is left is the words on paper, then great intent is useless, it is only the words that are enforceable.
The words around bridging the gap between the two markets are vague and would not mean much if tested. Does it include super for instance? Is there a defined and agreed end to it? There is nothing to say that the Company can't bring another aircraft, then another, then another. If we just accept this one, it will be harder next time. There is no guarantee that the QF mess will be cleaned up by christmas. The demand may get larger and larger, therefore the Company may want more and more PB crews.
The point is that I don't know what the future holds, and neither does any one else. So lets get some agreement between the pilots and the company as to what is reasonable in the short term, and what is required in the long term.
I agree that we should be supporting JB to the hilt, and in return they should be smart enough to engage with the unions and be prepared to put details in writing that are enforceable. Not that anyone expects to have to use that, but it would give comfort to the workforce in knowing that the company is prepared to commit to agreed positions. Trust is hard earned and easily lost. There is a tenuous trust at the moment between management and pilots. Things like this, if handled badly, could blow it apart.
Last edited by Keith Nash; 27th Oct 2011 at 21:29.