Jetstar staff fear air rage

[Wirraway]

Thurs "Herald Sun"

Jetstar staff fear air rage
18mar04

QANTAS staff fear they will become the victims of heightened air rage on the airline's new low-cost carrier Jetstar.

Australian Services Union (ASU) federal secretary Linda White said air rage attacks were more common on budget airlines, and staff wanted management to address the issue before the carrier's launch in May.
"We are expecting air rage to go through the roof... we are expecting unhappy passengers because of the fairly strict conditions in Jetstar," she told AAP.

"We are expecting we are going to cop that, and we are not getting any assurances or procedures from the company."

Ms White said mass meetings had been held at airports across the country, where staff had demanded talks with management on the issue.

But she said management had refused to address the issue and had claimed inadequate notice was provided for the staff meetings.

The airline has lodged a notice of industrial dispute against the union over the matter.

The parties are due to appear in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission later today.

The ASU represents about 10,500 Qantas workers, with most in ticketing and customer service.

Comment was being sought from Qantas.

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[itchybum]

Here they come- the ugg-boot brigade...

Remember the days when they couldn't afford to fly???

:ok:

[Buster Hyman]

The fare paid & service expectations can sometimes be poles apart. Whilst that, in itself, is no excuse for the behaviour that occurs, it can go some way to explaining how the $100 SYD return fare paid by the "ugg boot brigade" is the equivalent of the "Toorak tractor brigade" who've paid $800+ for JCL. It's still a big sum to them.

The frontline staff must have the support of their respective management in this area. If there is an abusive passenger, then there must be a unilateral approach to dealing with them. Void their ticket, involve the police, whatever. If the staff members are not supported, then this will continue, ad infinitum.