Qantas's own ill health
Qantas was once a great company! I have had the pleasure of working for this once respected airline when it was the envy of the world. That was before privatisation. Ask yourself: what company has succeeded in wealth and prosperity since they became a privatised? What company has given better service to its' customers or viewed its' employees as a valuable asset and not a cost cutting exercise once they were floated on the stock exchange? Telstra? Brambles? TNT? Commonwealth Bank?
When Qantas was privatised, it lost its' heart. It was no longer a company, it became a share holders money purse. Since the floating of Qantas it has declined rapidly and become a shell of its' former self. No longer our countries number one icon to the Australian people who were proud of it - one of the worlds most recognised icons and for decade after decade Australia's most respected and trusted icon. Geoff Dixon started the demise of our Aussie Icon and Alan Joyce has continued its' abet in its' decline in dropping a huge 47%. An enormous disappointment to the many, many employees whose dedication, pride and hands-on hard work are the real backbone of the company, the ones that got the company to its' best by being known as the safest airline in the world. The employees are the company's greatest asset... not the shareholders. Their value should never be seen as a limitless purse to delve into by cutting staff every time the CEO's and Managers make poor decisions and judgements that cost another slice of the profit. Qantas Engineering are second to none in their field. Our Pilots are the best in the world. If only the CEO's and Alan Joyce had realised that before they cut the airline off at its knees just for the short term bottom line.
We have nothing but a bunch of CEO's that are more interested in their
bonus over the good of the company!
I joined Qantas Airways in January 1970 at the age of 15. I was the youngest engineering apprentice to be employed by Qantas since Eric Kidd! I was a devoted loyal employee. A young lad that just wanted to work with aircraft. That feeling has never left me. 44 years later it is just the same, I just love working on and being around aircraft. I love my job and the responsibility that such a career requires! Every engineer that works on those magnificent aircraft love their job. Aircraft engineering is more than a job, it's a passion. Our work is our pride, it's who we are. At the end of your shift it's all about putting out the very highest standard of work and being proud of the job you have done.
I left Qantas in 1988 to further my International experience and knowledge of aircraft and company values. My knowledge and understanding of aircraft expanded. I saw first hand how our Engineering practices are so far above our competitors and why our airline was once world renowned for being the safest. That is not a title and an honour that is bestowed upon an airline by luck or chance.
I rejoined Qantas in 1996 after working at Malaysian Airlines, which by the way was set up with the help of Qantas from 1970 till mid 1980's. Qantas Engineers are recognised as leaders in their field and are very much respected internationally. Sadly this is not the case back home with our present managers.
When I rejoined Qantas Airways I felt there was a change in the air, the company was all about profit! Not a bad motivation for a company, but at what cost?
In my opinion we have had one good Managing Director and that was John Menedau. He was passed over because he didn't cut the mustard in regards to
profit. He cared too much for the welfare of the employees and integrity of the company overall.
Since 2000 we have had a run of incompetent CEO's who tell themselves what
they are doing is best for the company and pat themselves on the back justifying their shameful management. Just plain fantasy. Alan Joyce is the
worst yet. Not only has he been the cause of low company moral and conflict within the company, he actually closed Qantas down for a couple of days to prove a point. What point? A point that he was a tough man? A point that passengers, our customers heard loud and clear... Don't purchase tickets from an airline that could leave you stranded. It did not have his desired effect. Just as Sir Peter Ables got tough on his pilots, were is his airline now? Mr. Joyce did not want to negotiate, plain and simple. He wanted to bully his employees. It was an exercise in frenzied media relations. What a fiasco. His entire handling of the situation was a failure and yet he remains in the Managing Directors position. As did Geoff Dixon when his assault on Qantas failed in his attempt to sell Qantas. When will we learn from our mistakes? How can the people of Australia and further afield have faith in our carrier when we all have the feeling that it is a cold hearted company, run only for the bloated ego's of a few cut and shunt, grab the money and run, self-profiting individuals that are at the helm. At present, under his tenure, Alan Joyce has dismissed approx 5,000 highly skilled people. Skills that cost this company a huge amount of money at a time when this company invested in apprentices. They were Qantas' golden years when the Management saw the value of investing in the long term health of the company. Not the quick profit and bottom line for this years shareholders. Now Mr. Joyce is asking for help from the dwindling list of Qantas employees. How dare he! Another sign this man is delusional. How does he expect or even consider that he will get assistance from the employees that are left. They too are at an all-time low waiting for Mr. Joyce to find a way of terminating their employment so he can add their yearly wage to his salary and bonus.
My opinion is; Had Mr. Joyce kept his employees and boosted the company's morale, he would not be on his bended knee, hat in hand asking for our help by signing his partition to the Government!
What he really should be doing is saying "I am failing at this job, may I leave now please? I don't think I am the right person for the up and coming challenges of this next battle".
This is my story, please publish it. I think a large number of people in this industry along with the general public will see through his nonsense. Perhaps your readers will agree with my opinion; we're not doing too well since Mr. Joyce became Managing Director, engineered by the way by an equally morally bankrupt Managing Director Mr. Dixon.
Mr. Joyce has not posted dividends during his tenure.
After all, If you employed a person that didn't pull his weight, or did not produce what you employed him to achieve, what would you do?
Tell him he's no longer required.... or give him his big fat bonus?
To my mind, it's a no brainier.
When Qantas was investing in its Engineering, it's apprentices, it's purchase of aircraft it had long term goals.
These goals were realised when our red tailed Kangaroo Icon was known the world over as a reliable and respected airline. It advanced further when it was given the title of the safest airline in the world.
We are now being told it's a different ball game. It's a cut throat industry. There are fuel costs to consider etc...
Why are we believing this?
It's always been a cut throat industry.
Qantas has always had heavy weight competitors. KLM, British Airways, United, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Air India to name but a few. We have always had to pay for fuel.
We managed to survive when many of the larger competitors failed. How is that?
It's because we had a good product to sell. It's because we earned a good reputation. It's because we invested in a healthy backbone of the company. It's because we invested in advertising.
The only thing I can see that changed is privatising the company and selling off assets without reinvesting in the company... Qantas not Jetstar.
We were not paying such a large slice of the company's funds to CEO's outrageous salary, super, expense accounts, slush funds, bonuses & bonus shares.
I see only a fraction of the advertising we use to see. I see more Jetstar Adverts than QF.
Qantas is self insured. With the aircraft being sent overseas for maintenance, how long will it be before their safety record falls out of the sky? Will it then go the way of TWA etc..
So at long last I have told you all my feelings about QANTAS .