Qantas complicit in jailing of union official?

[Seabreeze]

Well its good to see that AIPA has taken up the fight to apply pressure to get Shalend Scott (Air Pacific Pilot union secretary) released from jail in Fiji.

Accused of leaking documents which showed that Air Pacific contracted lawyers to create onerous labour law restrictions for the Fijian government, it is hard to believe that Scott had any official access to Air Pacific documents in the first place. He is a pilot! At worst, someone else must have been the official leak; and/or its quite possible that Scott was framed. Scott is only a pawn in this power game!

In Australia the offence would be a civil one, and certainly anyone suspected of such an act would not be jailed. This new Fijian legislation is outrageous!

Qantas owns 46% of Air Pacific, and two Qantas employees are members of the Air Pacific Board:

Narendra Kumar and Simon Hickey


Well you may have read that
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

So Kumar, Hickey and Joyce, here is your individual character test. You have a choice:

Stand up now as men and apply pressure to get Scott released, and to get his job back,

OR

Be forever condemned by your own inaction.

Hopefully you will have the guts to do the former.



Seabreeze

[600ft-lb]

You really expect these guys to care ? The only thing the corporate breed care about is their easily obtainable bonus. Pesky unions, amongst other things stand in the way of bonuses. Don't hold out hope that anyone within a major shareholder of Air Pacific would give 2 hoots about what's going on in Fiji.

It's not like a major shareholder of Tour East Thailand gave 2 hoots that the company employed flight attendants on slave like conditions and onerous resignation clauses and onerous rosters and threatened their employment when said onerous rosters caused problems.

Instead of sympathy for the affected staff, they got sent letters threatening them with the sack should it happen again.

Pesky unions and sleep deprived staff standing in the way of profits.

Don't expect any corporation to ever care for anyone except their own self interest.

[DutchRoll]

There is a long world history of regimes which have imprisoned union leaders on trumped up charges. One of the earliest and most significant ones started doing it on 2nd May 1933, in Europe.

When you look at the particular regimes involved, it does make you wonder where we're headed, and exactly what principles the leaders of Qantas stand for.

[Conductor]

There is a long world history of regimes which have imprisoned union leaders on trumped up charges. One of the earliest and most significant ones started doing it on 2nd May 1933, in Europe.

When you look at the particular regimes involved, it does make you wonder where we're headed, and exactly what principles the leaders of Qantas stand for.

I think that in accordance with Godwin's Law, the thread now ends (although it usually takes more than 3 posts!). ;)

[Worrals in the wilds]

In Australia the offence would be a civil one, and certainly anyone suspected of such an act would not be jailed. This new Fijian legislation is outrageous!Unless you are a Commonwealth Officer, which is any person employed under the Public Service Act.
CRIMES ACT 1914 - SECT 70

Disclosure of information by Commonwealth officers (1) A person who, being a Commonwealth (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca191482/s3.html#commonwealth_officer) officer (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca191482/s3.html#commonwealth_officer), publishes or communicates, except to some person to whom he or she is authorized to publish or communicate it, any fact or document which comes to his or her knowledge, or into his or her possession, by virtue of being a Commonwealth officer (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca191482/s3.html#commonwealth_officer), and which it is his or her duty not to disclose, shall be guilty of an offence (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca191482/s3c.html#offence).
(2) A person who, having been a Commonwealth (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca191482/s3.html#commonwealth_officer) officer (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca191482/s3.html#commonwealth_officer), publishes or communicates, without lawful authority or excuse (proof whereof shall lie upon him or her), any fact or document which came to his or her knowledge, or into his or her possession, by virtue of having been a Commonwealth officer (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca191482/s3.html#commonwealth_officer), and which, at the time when he or she ceased to be a Commonwealth officer (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca191482/s3.html#commonwealth_officer), it was his or her duty not to disclose, shall be guilty of an offence (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca191482/s3c.html#offence). Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

Note the reverse onus of proof.

Of course in Australia you get a fair trial and there is a free press (much as we love to hate them), which is not the case in many other places. Anyway, good luck to the guy and at least the AIPA is getting involved. As for Qantas, who would expect anything different? :(

[Brian Abraham]

KumarHaven't I heard that name before? TV comedy show? Comedy relocated to the Pacific?

[DutchRoll]

I think that in accordance with Godwin's Law, the thread now ends (although it usually takes more than 3 posts!).

Yeah I was actually trying to avoid invoking Godwin's Law directly! ;)

As I said, there are multiple regimes that used these sort of anti-union tactics through history. They were just one of the most notorious - another was their opposition in eastern europe. Then there have been various others scattered around the place, all of which are totalitarian in one form or another.

My point, I suppose, was that the Fiji Government made these laws and they were advised and supported by an airline, the board members of which cannot possibly (or at least not credibly) just plead ignorance. It is an extremely disturbing development for anyone who knows history.

I openly wonder if the airline bosses and primary stakeholders tacitly condone this sort of worrying trend, ie, just lock the union organisers up and ban them from doing anything.

[TIMA9X]

0Kd_xtaAMEc

ABC Lateline last night, well done BJ for taking this on, he made some valid points regarding Qs off-shore plans.

.

[Y0SSARIAN]

The active sponsorship of Military dictatorships by Multinational corporations seeking to rid themselves of "pesky" labour unions, national laws upholding basic human rights, freedom of speech, costly social welfare programs and other vestiges of democratic societies is certainly nothing new.

One does not need to look as far back as the European horrors of Hitler or Mussolini to see the true priorities of Multinationals seeking to crush democracy with an iron fist in the pursuit of unfettered access to resources, labour markets and super profits for a minority elite.

A more compelling analogy would be the "dirty wars" of Latin America from the '60's until the '80's, in which democratically elected governments were overthrown by military dictatorships (with well publicised CIA backing). The terror, kidnappings, murders and "disappearances" of union leaders, political opponents, artists and even clergy that followed highlights the lengths to which Global Capital will go to ensure profits are not compromised for the sake of democracy and the rule of law.

Thus the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. As citizens of a developed society with a relatively "free" press and substantial civil liberties it is incumbent on us to ensure that such crimes of history are not allowed to repeat themselves on our doorstep, using the very companies whose financial power is underwritten by our labour as proxy sponsors of terror and repression.

[Barry Mundy]

BA

Ask the former Sunstate Engineers if they know the name Narendra Kumar. Im sure they will give him a glowing reference.

[D.Lamination]

Release him now.

I boycott all Fiji products and holidays until he is released and decline to support the Fiji rugby team. :mad:

Fiji - a once proud country descending into third world irrelevance and subjugation by communist Chinese money.

[empacher48]

I have heard, that the CEO of Air Pacific has told the government of Fiji to "throw the book" at the pilot.

The latest "charge" is treason by computer hacking and spying on the government of Fiji.

Of course it now means he is likely to be in prison forever.

[balance]

Why on earth do we have a 14 year old boy in Bali, who did something silly, getting a heap of media attention, not to mention consular and government support, and yet this fella, who prima facie appears innocent, seems to be getting virtually nothing?

The world has gone truly bananas.

[TWT]

Because No Idea,Woman's Weekly,Sunrise,Today,TT,ACA are only interested in the
Bali 'Teenager in Tourist Nightmare'angle.There's a never ending stream of material about Aussies in trouble in Bali,nice salacious headlines.A bloke in jail in a country run by a military dictatorship with absolute media control ?Forget it.No heartstrings to be pulled there.

[Conductor]

This situation is very concerning. By the time this issue gets any media attention (if ever) it could be well advanced, making it difficult to get him out. Some political lobbying is required here.

[chimbu warrior]

<Coup Four And A Half> (http://www.coupfourandahalf.com/)

A very sobering read, particularly when you get down to the part where the CEO used company funds to get legal advice on behalf of a corrupt and illegal regime.

My point, I suppose, was that the Fiji Government made these laws

Unfortunately there is no government, and, inter alia, no laws. This is a "decree" issued by the (self appointed) Prime Minister.

[troppo]

Chimbu, please don't take this as a personal attack as it is not intended.

That website is predominantly fictional and great for the illiterate and uneducated.

The Government, whilst not democratically elected is legal.

In the same way you get into trouble dabbling in drugs in Bali, it is well known that meddling in the wrong things in Fiji also gets you into trouble and doing so as a foreign national is likely to be rewarded with deportation and an example being made.

[Tankengine]

Judging by their other actions it is possible that this is being driven BY QANTAS MANAGEMENT in their fight against unions!:ooh:

They do own a lot of Air Pacific, they would have a lot of influence there.:uhoh:

[gutso-blundo]

Perhaps some pressure will be applied in the back rooms leading up to the AGM, considering Shalend is a graduate of UNSW and spent quite some time working in the aviation department...

[DutchRoll]

The Government, whilst not democratically elected is legal.

So it's a legal military dictatorship.

In the same way you get into trouble dabbling in drugs in Bali, it is well known that meddling in the wrong things in Fiji...

Let me get this straight: you are comparing a silly young kid caught with a small amount of weed with a union official arrested and imprisoned without trial by a military dictatorship while they concoct espionage and treason charges against him? Yeah, I see the striking similarities...... :confused:

[4Greens]

Hope all ppruners keep us overseas readers up to date with how things go. Used to work with Shalend - he is a good bloke.

[blow.n.gasket]

Smacks of the 49's and what Cathay did to Union Officials there.I'm sure John Warham would have some interesting comments to make on this topic.

[Captain Dart]

...and nearly during 'that year' in Australia. I distinctly remember headlines on the front page of the Melbourne Sun screaming 'JAIL PILOTS'.

[Seabreeze]

It appears Shalend Scott has now been freed on bail (subject to handing in passports and providing sureties of $3000), but apparently still risks up to 2 years in jail. No info on when the trial will be.

Bail for pilot - Fiji Times Online (http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=183085)


Further statements from Air Pacific are at

Air Pacific confirms suspension - Fiji Times Online (http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=183067)

Air Pacific has admitted it has contributed to the development of the Essential National Industries Employment Decree. I doubt if AP management understands ethics (the word has 6 letters and 2 syllables; probably a bit too advanced). QF management don't seem to care either; sickening.

[Seabreeze]

So, in another posting, Sunfish has done some excellent research into Rio Tinto's approaches to ethics and workplace management.

In particular, I note the following extract from Rio Tinto website
Non managed operations - Rio Tinto (http://www.riotinto.com/ourapproach/17203_non-managed_operations.asp)

"Non managed operations

Rio Tinto holds interests in companies and ventures it does not manage. However, we engage as members of the boards of directors operating committees and/or technical committees. Because we believe that the principles in The way we work are universal, in our dealings with joint venture partners and non-controlled companies we make every effort to ensure that those standards of conduct are respected at all times. "

Qantas Directors involved with Air Pacific - please note, and get on with ensuring standards of conduct at Air pacific

Leigh Clifford - please note that the Qantas Directors on Air Pacific do not seem to be acting in such a way.

At present, it seems like Qantas has a different set of ethical standards; it is hard to reconcile the Qantas CEO turning his back on the Air Pacific actions with regard to the Emergency Services Decree and Mr Shalend Scott with ethics of the nature that Rio Tinto (and the common Chairman Leigh Cliffiord) seem to have.

SB

[ACT Crusader]

ACTU website for those that haven't seen it.

Your Rights at Work - Human Rights for Fiji (http://www.rightsatwork.com.au/Home/Campaigns/Human-Rights-for-Fiji.aspx)

[peuce]

Perhaps the Fiji situation is a portent to how Qantas may operate if it gets its way and sets up subsidiaries/joint ventures overseas ...

Is that how the Australian Government wants its National Icon to be marketing "Brand Australia" ?

[4Greens]

The good news he is released on bail. Unfortunately its not known what happens next.

[Seabreeze]

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr is in Fiji early May. Hopefully will be asking about SS, and keeping political pressure on.

For those who don't know, AP FO SS was charged with various offences, jailed then released on bail and is now awaiting trial. He released info that AP had contracted a US company to write legislation to jail union officials; the "Essential National Industries (Employment) Decree". Then he was charged under the same legislation!

SB

[4Greens]

Pse, all those in the know, keep us up to date. Any info from AIPA?