Time to change strategy QF Pilots.

[mangatete]

Pilot against Pilot does nothing except put a big smile on the CEOs face's. Its inevitable that survivable Airlines will need to diversify into a mixture of full service or low cost backpacker type operations, with 100% wet lease operations included as well.
This does not keep all the pilots happy, lower pay rates for some groups and slow command progression for others. We can try and slow this metamorphose but it is going to happen. So what is it we really want?
1) To retain pay and conditions that exist, and
2) Keep command progression happening for those next in line.
Qantas owns 100% of at least five Jet airline operations, Qantas Mainline, Australian Airlines, Jet Star, Jetconnect and recently the flight operations of Express Freighters Australia.
Each of these operators have their own pay and conditions and each of these operators have their place in the overall operation, and we cannot change that. We can waste a lot of time, anger and money but it will still remain this way. History has proved this overseas already.
So each operator retains their own pay and conditions O.K but what about progression then... Well again whats worked best overseas already.
A single common seniority list for all Qantas 100% owned jet operations. Sure to get the CEOs to agree there would be some limitations on how often you could play your card but at the end of the day they don't care which operation you work for.
So now we have the ability for pilots to retain the pay and conditions in the operation they bid to be with, and also apply for progression when their turn comes, if the new position suits them.
There would be lots of fine tuning sorting out a seniority list, but in the end one common list and one common industrial group is the only long term answer.
Cheers Mag.

[hotnhigh]

Agree mag and I think AIPA have been persuing this for awhile, but GD's answer is no,no,no,no.
So what to do then?:ugh:

[mangatete]

Firstly insure that's what we all want, as it will require a united effort. We all need to consider how this would work for us. Even those of us sitting in the top paying jobs would like to have the option of a change of location or equipment in the future, it can work for everyone if we think through the many opportunities this would bring to everyone.
AIPA, Jetstar's JPC and the groups standing for Jetconnect need to agree on this being their priority, to see the way forward. If we can do this then as a united group all this will happen. As I mentioned earlier there would need to be conditions on how many times a pilot could use their position to bid and also what costs the operator would incur apart from the training of course, but these would be the finer points of the negotiating.
AIPA are trying to arrange a common remunration across a common fleet, this will be hard to maintain and some may see it as a way to keep one group on the type so will not necessary get a unanimous support. Maybe Ian W could provide some input to a common group pilot seniority as the way forward to a united group of professional pilots working towards a common goal.