I find a few things a bit incomprehensible about the whole situation with the recent turn of events...

The first being Joyce's 71% pay increase. If the company is battling, how can the "leader" justify any of his claims to move jobs off shore, restructure, etc. The revamping of the Qantas structure should see Joyce cop the losses as much as any of the other staff are.

There was an article in the most recent Australian Aviation magazine which talked about re nationalising QANTAS... Maybe this would be the only option now if the government does not want the global image destroyed and the knock on effect to Australian tourism to impact the economy further.

As opposed to the crew bailing out mid flight????

On a more serious note. This seems to be a game of who will blink first

QF Grounding - Now they come out!
 

As a former employee, (CSM), I watch with interest. What a well timed intervention, to rally the cause to shift the brand, and call on the assistance of a desperate Govt. Last time I checked didn't they remove the independent umpire, oh what was it called, that's right, the industrial relations Commissioner? Should have thought ahead Labour....Last time I checked a Labour govt should be on side with the Unions, not a private enterprise. Which always had me confiused when I was employed by QF why the majority of staff continued to vote for Labour. I can't help but think this has all been orchestrated. QF want to direct their business to Jetstar, and dissolve the QF brand, no brainer! All the financial analysts predicted this when Jetstar was born. WOW! Don't know about the average Australian but I could prosper on an income of $2million, what I could do with an additonal $3million....

I am not sure was wise of Mr. Joyce, the Qantas CEO, to shut down the airline whilst the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is taking place in Perth. This has now brought Qantas into confrontation with the Federal Government as well as the unions.

QANTAS has been an ongoing disaster since it was privatised by the worlds first greatest treasurer:{. The board plunders the profits for itself and has never made a smart decision. :( Good luck to the QANTAS staff you have now joined the brave new world of free enterprise and globalisation that most australian workers faced under the hawk and keating governments. Welcome to the real world. :eek:

Ground the airline the day after the AGM, what a coincidence!

I guess red ties really clash with AJ's colour sense!

now we will see how good he is as Minister for sheds (for the grounded planes like) more LOL

excellent timing with half of the cabinet and staffers in Perth. heaps more LOL

I remember too well the Ansett strike, very nearly sent us (helicopter tourism at that time) to the wall. 57 businesses in the main street of Cairns did shut doiwn - broke. no bloody laughter here IMHO.

Friend of mine who works for QF passed on this as the reason for the "lockout".

This was apparently the text of the email sent to QF Pilots:

So let me see....... wearing red ties with the slogan "QANTAS flight, QANTAS Pilot" and making a 30 sec. announcement seems like a good reason to ground an airline- not.

Militant pilots or militant management - you decide.

I think the pilots action was irrelavent, they where just the cream on the excuse cake. Killing two (or is it three) birds with one stone, and a whole lot of collateral damage.

Certainly agree that the timing is bad but I guess that it is tactical. With CHOGM in progress, the publicity ( good or bad ) and the pressure on the Labour government will work in Joyce's favour.

1989 and what's happening now occur under Labour's watch; big business certainly win outright. The guerilla tactics of industrial action by the pilots and other unions certainly played into the hands of the management in that they demonise their actions in the eyes of the public.

Will Australia be bold enough to really kill off QF and really start anew?

Seriously , to give yourself a 71% payrise then tell staff they are being unrealistic with their wage demands is just PISS POOR LEADERSHIP , Joyce is an idiot that needs to be taken out of Qantas.

Best of luck my friends. I salute you for standing up to greed, which knows no political or geographical boundaries.

These short term managers are more than happy charging first world prices but not so hot on paying first world employees. An epidemic which will soon see them hanging upside down in the town squares all around the world.

I wish you the best of luck and stand strong and united against these :mad:.

As a business owner the management have really shot themselves in the foot with massive pay rises , what a truly stupid move.

I'm not an ex Qantas employee but I'm with the staff on this one.

Looks like a very childish decision from the CEO.

Hear hear sqwawk, aseanaero. This is obvious and deliberate union busting. There's absolutely no other reason for the shutdown.

Be strong TWU / AIPA / ALAEA members and keep fighting. If Alan's allowed to get away with this we're all screwed.

I am not usually union orientated but this Joyce guy is just a prize goose. Best wishes to all the workers.

Looks to me like Mr Joyce has been chatting to his mate Willy!

I put my money on Qantas 'winning' this one if winning is the right term when both sides will lose in spades.

Alan Joyce
 

Alan Joyce get a pay rise, employees can't pay their mortgage. What a #$!*er

Vale Qantas I think
 

It would have been cheaper to just listen ....

If other people can't see the hypocrisy that Joyce is exhibiting, the above (quoted) statement makes it fairly clear. I get the feeling that all concerned are making some fair comments here (you won't see Joyce on here will you?); but that opinions like those of Dick Smith are going to play out. DS can see the owners point of view; but in this situation who is the owner? Shareholders? A disconnected CEO who doesn't sound Australian is at the helm and is likely to put an end to the name that was once called the worlds safest airline (thats the bit that cuts). And for extra millions to him ?!? Don't look for leadership from elsewhere; Julia is about to join the ranks of those other two politician fwits in her political past. Oh well - bring on the dumbed down beef trucks that airlines are becoming .. maybe the kangaroo has become a dinosaur. Can't wait to sit in one of those vertical seats and pay for every gram of bags, and get frisked or cavity checked beforehand on my next ride - NOT.

That's the difference between a mighty airline and a doomed low cost carrier: While Qantas is able to ground themselves, Tiger needs for the same some help :\