Qantas to call crew bluff on 'sick-out'
A suggestion. If you really are going to go ahead with this, you had better put yourself out of the reach of the company doctor.
I would expect there is nothing to say that you must be "in range" if crook, or in constant communication either. In other words, after you call in sick, go home to mum or whatever and remain incommunicado untill your condition improves
I would expect there is nothing to say that you must be "in range" if crook, or in constant communication either. In other words, after you call in sick, go home to mum or whatever and remain incommunicado untill your condition improves
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15 October 2004
Attention all Qantas Long Haul Flight Attendants
SUPPORT FROM FAAA REGIONAL/DOMESTIC DIVISION
I wish to thank the leadership and the membership of the FAAA Domestic/Regional Division for their support in relation to any possible industrial action that we may take in support of our EBA claims.
Reprinted below is an email issued by our Domestic/Regional colleagues.
Attention: All Eastern/Sunstate and Jetstar Flight Attendants
Fixed Term Contracts - Long Haul Division
We have received many calls from members seeking advice on the recent recruitment by Qantas for Fixed Term Contracts in the Long Haul Division.
In particular, members have sought clarification that should they accept a position, are they being used as strike breakers in the event of any industrial action that Long Haul flight attendants may take at the end of the year.
The Association is not in a position to indicate one way or another as to why fixed term contracts are available. In fact it is a matter for each individual to make up their own minds in accepting or rejecting this limited employment with Qantas.
However, in making your decision you need to take all factors into consideration including the timing of any such offer and why you are good enough for fixed term in Long Haul but did not rate an offer for London .
What we can say to those who are concerned about any industrial action is our FAAA policy is members should refrain from undertaking any work or duty that lies within the province of another union's industrial action. Members should also note that the right of our Long Haul colleagues, in the event that they decide to take industrial action in pursuit of their legitimate EBA claims should be recognised, respected and have your full support.
This newsletter was written and authorised by
Michael Mijatov , Divisional Secretary - International
Attention all Qantas Long Haul Flight Attendants
SUPPORT FROM FAAA REGIONAL/DOMESTIC DIVISION
I wish to thank the leadership and the membership of the FAAA Domestic/Regional Division for their support in relation to any possible industrial action that we may take in support of our EBA claims.
Reprinted below is an email issued by our Domestic/Regional colleagues.
Attention: All Eastern/Sunstate and Jetstar Flight Attendants
Fixed Term Contracts - Long Haul Division
We have received many calls from members seeking advice on the recent recruitment by Qantas for Fixed Term Contracts in the Long Haul Division.
In particular, members have sought clarification that should they accept a position, are they being used as strike breakers in the event of any industrial action that Long Haul flight attendants may take at the end of the year.
The Association is not in a position to indicate one way or another as to why fixed term contracts are available. In fact it is a matter for each individual to make up their own minds in accepting or rejecting this limited employment with Qantas.
However, in making your decision you need to take all factors into consideration including the timing of any such offer and why you are good enough for fixed term in Long Haul but did not rate an offer for London .
What we can say to those who are concerned about any industrial action is our FAAA policy is members should refrain from undertaking any work or duty that lies within the province of another union's industrial action. Members should also note that the right of our Long Haul colleagues, in the event that they decide to take industrial action in pursuit of their legitimate EBA claims should be recognised, respected and have your full support.
This newsletter was written and authorised by
Michael Mijatov , Divisional Secretary - International
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QF LAMES are about to start EB talks very soon,id suggest all you guys need to put every defect you see in the Cabin Log /Techlog and leave the rest to us.If Good old GD thinks a 66% payrise is fine for himself then i say LOOK out .Its about time we get together,the days of taking him on one at a time are over.Many years ago many of the countries around Israel wanted to blew ,instead of joining forces and belting them,each country wanted to look big and be the winner.History shows they got the **** kicked out of them.
I know that probably wasnt the best analogy but im just proving the unity equals strenght.If GD wants a fight let him take us ALL on.
QF LAMES have had enough.
I know that probably wasnt the best analogy but im just proving the unity equals strenght.If GD wants a fight let him take us ALL on.
QF LAMES have had enough.
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Remember back to 89'
Don't let history repeat it self, take LAME1 advise.
The main difference between 04 and 89 is that QF won't get government support/bailout. The shareholders will quickly sharpen their daggers.
Remember back to 2000
1 The Howard government bailed out 'National textiles" employees, but not the company (PM brother worked there)
2 Ansett fell over, PM waves Ansett good bye, but imposes a tax on QANTAS passengers to keep 17,000 angry citzens happy...and gets re-elected.
2004- If GD wants to get the PM's support , he had better think again.
GD is most certaintly bluffing, it is the FAAA who hold the trump card.
However, the QF F/A had better start saving their dollars as GD will not go down without a fight. I'm sure he'll use whatever dirty tactics he can muster to postpone the strike till the new year.
Lastly, this is purely a hugh guess...but I wonder if BA selling it's share in QF had anything to do with the comming strike?
I hope the engineers keep no more than 3 steps behind the F/A.
U2
Don't let history repeat it self, take LAME1 advise.
The main difference between 04 and 89 is that QF won't get government support/bailout. The shareholders will quickly sharpen their daggers.
Remember back to 2000
1 The Howard government bailed out 'National textiles" employees, but not the company (PM brother worked there)
2 Ansett fell over, PM waves Ansett good bye, but imposes a tax on QANTAS passengers to keep 17,000 angry citzens happy...and gets re-elected.
2004- If GD wants to get the PM's support , he had better think again.
GD is most certaintly bluffing, it is the FAAA who hold the trump card.
However, the QF F/A had better start saving their dollars as GD will not go down without a fight. I'm sure he'll use whatever dirty tactics he can muster to postpone the strike till the new year.
Lastly, this is purely a hugh guess...but I wonder if BA selling it's share in QF had anything to do with the comming strike?
I hope the engineers keep no more than 3 steps behind the F/A.
U2
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Qf management statement -
"Omark44
Over 150 posts! About time I clicked here and ordered a Personal Title.
posted 15th October 2004 02:12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Better take a close look at your contract Fordran, quite a lot will say that you must submit yourself to an examination by a company doctor if required by the company. So, as long as he properly identifies himself................................?"
Now just pretend you are a Qantas manager (shouldn't be hard) and you come to my house with a doctor. You knock on the door and nobody answers. End of game.
Try making an appointment. I will see you tomorrow. November 18, feeling much better now. Aircraft grounded, point made.
"Omark44
Over 150 posts! About time I clicked here and ordered a Personal Title.
posted 15th October 2004 02:12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Better take a close look at your contract Fordran, quite a lot will say that you must submit yourself to an examination by a company doctor if required by the company. So, as long as he properly identifies himself................................?"
Now just pretend you are a Qantas manager (shouldn't be hard) and you come to my house with a doctor. You knock on the door and nobody answers. End of game.
Try making an appointment. I will see you tomorrow. November 18, feeling much better now. Aircraft grounded, point made.
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The cost savings QF stand to make by ridding the system of 1950's work practices will far outweigh the costs involved in a protracted dispute.
The Howard Government will not give 2 hoots about QF flighties. GD and JH will be lunching regularly to ensure both teams are fully prepped for the PR battle. The Howard Mantra of de-unionising staff in Oz making the workforce more "flexible" will continue.
The Howard Government will not give 2 hoots about QF flighties. GD and JH will be lunching regularly to ensure both teams are fully prepped for the PR battle. The Howard Mantra of de-unionising staff in Oz making the workforce more "flexible" will continue.
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Sorry fordrun
But you couldn't be more wrong if you tried, I'm not anybody's management, just someone who has been in the industry a long, long time, seen lots of disputes and now passing on a word of caution about tactics. What i'm saying is make sure you, (the FAs), are watertight, that's all.
Someone playing devil's advocate can, at times, be a help rather than a hinderence in aiding people to come to objective conclusions when they are involved in highly emotive issues. As an engineer you can just about pick your job, if you are prepared to travel, jobs being advertised worldwide regularly, FAs don't always have the same amount of choice.
Someone playing devil's advocate can, at times, be a help rather than a hinderence in aiding people to come to objective conclusions when they are involved in highly emotive issues. As an engineer you can just about pick your job, if you are prepared to travel, jobs being advertised worldwide regularly, FAs don't always have the same amount of choice.
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If you were the pic, of a qf rat, would you depart a terminal, knowing full well that the cabin was crewed by, under trained, underexperienced , unprofessional sc&bs.
We will soon see the MF, or the LMF of the so called pic's of the "they never crash , airline
"cheers
robroy
We will soon see the MF, or the LMF of the so called pic's of the "they never crash , airline
"cheers
robroy
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Zapatas Blood
...are you suggesting that this is all part of the plan to burn out the dead wood at QF. Really, I'm curious, because that would turn the strike on its head. Does QF managment want cost cuts or jobs?
Or possibly both?
I guess the costs involved in a short term dispute, would be peanuts compared to the benefits of organisational culling! Although the product will be effected.
..but now is the time of LC air transport and cost accountablitiy. The travelling public prefer to pay for a product (IE transport from a to b) rather than for a premium service.
So is QF mainline going to be following suit with the LCC model, or are they just scaling back on the premium model. So now we will have a sort of a watered down premium carrier??
U2
...are you suggesting that this is all part of the plan to burn out the dead wood at QF. Really, I'm curious, because that would turn the strike on its head. Does QF managment want cost cuts or jobs?
Or possibly both?
I guess the costs involved in a short term dispute, would be peanuts compared to the benefits of organisational culling! Although the product will be effected.
..but now is the time of LC air transport and cost accountablitiy. The travelling public prefer to pay for a product (IE transport from a to b) rather than for a premium service.
So is QF mainline going to be following suit with the LCC model, or are they just scaling back on the premium model. So now we will have a sort of a watered down premium carrier??
U2
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Sorry robroy. the average punter sees hosties as waitresses of the skies, not much to do with safety. Why? Because on the average flight, nothing goes wrong and all they do is close the doors, stand around pointing at life-jackets (on video now) and seve food.
You over-estimate the degree to which people care about issues like this.
As long as they still get their coke with ice and a packet of peanuts, plus a movie, they won't care whether the hosties have done a 2 hour safety course or the standard 2 weeks.
You over-estimate the degree to which people care about issues like this.
As long as they still get their coke with ice and a packet of peanuts, plus a movie, they won't care whether the hosties have done a 2 hour safety course or the standard 2 weeks.
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Mon "Melbourne Age"
Qantas training 'strike breakers'
By Scott Rochfort
October 18, 2004
Qantas has quietly hired 350 flight attendants on three-month fixed contracts in an apparent move to thwart a threatened Christmas strike by its 4000 long-haul cabin crew over plans to base more jobs overseas.
Outfitted with black pants and red polo tops, instead of the usual flight attendant uniform, the new intake of Qantas attendants are being trained in how to operate a 747 aircraft.
In what is shaping up to be one of the most high-profile industrial disputes since the 1998 waterfront strike, there are claims the fixed-termers are being asked to use code-word destinations (such as "Bronte") when picked up by unmarked Qantas buses for their training sessions at the airline's Sydney base at Mascot.
The Flight Attendants Association is already calling the trainees "strike-breakers" - and is taking Qantas to the Federal Industrial Relations Commission this morning over the matter.
"What has Qantas got to hide and what are they ashamed of that they have to go to these extraordinary lengths to mask what they are doing?" the international head of the FAAA, Michael Mijatov, said yesterday.
But Qantas denies there is any secrecy, saying it has told the FAAA how many people it is training and given union officials free access to talk to fixed-term staff, some of whom have joined the union.
"How can there be any secrecy when we've told the union about the training?" Qantas spokesman Michael Sharp asked.
With the FAAA warning it could take industrial action over Qantas' plans to base hundreds of cabin crew overseas, Qantas is believed to be training more of its non-flying and management staff on how to work aboard long-haul aircraft.
Qantas says the extra staff will help it get through the peak Christmas period, but the FAAA says the airline plans to use the fixed-termers as strike breakers. (A recent union survey found that 96 per cent of its Qantas members were willing to strike.)
The FAAA says Qantas has offered many of the contract positions to people who previously had their applications to become flight attendants rejected.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Qantas customers have unknowingly had their summer travel bookings altered after the airline revised its flight schedule.
Despite accepting payment for the advertised flight bookings, the airline cancelled and rescheduled a host of summer flights late last week, in changes that are believed to affect a high proportion of passengers over the peak summer period.
Most changes will be minor delays. However, some flights have been cancelled.
The cancellations mean passengers have been redirected onto other flights, with discrepancies of more than an hour from the original bookings in some cases.
Qantas yesterday maintained that there had been no deliberate or significant overhaul of the summer schedule.
=============================================
Qantas training 'strike breakers'
By Scott Rochfort
October 18, 2004
Qantas has quietly hired 350 flight attendants on three-month fixed contracts in an apparent move to thwart a threatened Christmas strike by its 4000 long-haul cabin crew over plans to base more jobs overseas.
Outfitted with black pants and red polo tops, instead of the usual flight attendant uniform, the new intake of Qantas attendants are being trained in how to operate a 747 aircraft.
In what is shaping up to be one of the most high-profile industrial disputes since the 1998 waterfront strike, there are claims the fixed-termers are being asked to use code-word destinations (such as "Bronte") when picked up by unmarked Qantas buses for their training sessions at the airline's Sydney base at Mascot.
The Flight Attendants Association is already calling the trainees "strike-breakers" - and is taking Qantas to the Federal Industrial Relations Commission this morning over the matter.
"What has Qantas got to hide and what are they ashamed of that they have to go to these extraordinary lengths to mask what they are doing?" the international head of the FAAA, Michael Mijatov, said yesterday.
But Qantas denies there is any secrecy, saying it has told the FAAA how many people it is training and given union officials free access to talk to fixed-term staff, some of whom have joined the union.
"How can there be any secrecy when we've told the union about the training?" Qantas spokesman Michael Sharp asked.
With the FAAA warning it could take industrial action over Qantas' plans to base hundreds of cabin crew overseas, Qantas is believed to be training more of its non-flying and management staff on how to work aboard long-haul aircraft.
Qantas says the extra staff will help it get through the peak Christmas period, but the FAAA says the airline plans to use the fixed-termers as strike breakers. (A recent union survey found that 96 per cent of its Qantas members were willing to strike.)
The FAAA says Qantas has offered many of the contract positions to people who previously had their applications to become flight attendants rejected.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Qantas customers have unknowingly had their summer travel bookings altered after the airline revised its flight schedule.
Despite accepting payment for the advertised flight bookings, the airline cancelled and rescheduled a host of summer flights late last week, in changes that are believed to affect a high proportion of passengers over the peak summer period.
Most changes will be minor delays. However, some flights have been cancelled.
The cancellations mean passengers have been redirected onto other flights, with discrepancies of more than an hour from the original bookings in some cases.
Qantas yesterday maintained that there had been no deliberate or significant overhaul of the summer schedule.
=============================================
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Notice how the journo says "Qantas has quietly hired 350 flight attendants ...in an apparent move to thwart a.....strike" Careful wording avoids responsibility but still leaves the reader/moron convinced Qantas has hired scabs specifically for the purpose.
Instructions direct from the editor and you-know-who above him. Freedom of the press, my fat hairy white pilot's @rse. As in politics, the media are used to manipulate public opinion on this issue.
Instructions direct from the editor and you-know-who above him. Freedom of the press, my fat hairy white pilot's @rse. As in politics, the media are used to manipulate public opinion on this issue.
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I think QF are making a huge mistake. Public opinion will definately play a huge role in this one, and if the FAAA play their cards right, QF stands to look very Dickensian.
Many people in many industries are sick of working harder for less and less, so that people like Dixon can make their $6.5 million pa. And worse, the 'spirit of Australia' is sending more jobs overseas. Although they are doing a pretty good pr job so far, that is what the heart of the matter is; QF sending oz jobs o/s.
Typically, they've tried to save a few bucks by putting different (read cheaper) outfits on those unwitting youngsters who will be the scabs. Very clever. I wonder how many managers would have the balls to put on an identifying outfit and go out to scab? 3 month contracts
Used and discarded. "The spirit of Australia'. Yeah, right.
Many people in many industries are sick of working harder for less and less, so that people like Dixon can make their $6.5 million pa. And worse, the 'spirit of Australia' is sending more jobs overseas. Although they are doing a pretty good pr job so far, that is what the heart of the matter is; QF sending oz jobs o/s.
Typically, they've tried to save a few bucks by putting different (read cheaper) outfits on those unwitting youngsters who will be the scabs. Very clever. I wonder how many managers would have the balls to put on an identifying outfit and go out to scab? 3 month contracts
Used and discarded. "The spirit of Australia'. Yeah, right.
Actually I have some sympathy with Dixon in his current role, having done the job of working for a Board of Directors as CEO myself.
It sounds like its a doddle but it isn't, anymore than its a doddle driving a large aircraft. You are actually working during all your waking hours. There is no one you can turn to, the buck stops with you.
The Board has one job - to watch you and decide if they like where you are taking the company. If they decide they don't like what you are doing, then you are out, instantly. Furthermore, you stuff up publicly you will never work again. Its a huge personal risk you are taking. Put a foot wrong and you are out.
The salary is a reflection of what you are hopefully creating for the shareholders - wealth. You are expected to devote yourself full time to this purpose and nothing else.
Most CEO's take the view that if I'm supposed to use my talents to produce millions of dollars for shareholders, then some of it had better rub off on me too.
Slang off if you like, but it isn't as easy as it looks.
It sounds like its a doddle but it isn't, anymore than its a doddle driving a large aircraft. You are actually working during all your waking hours. There is no one you can turn to, the buck stops with you.
The Board has one job - to watch you and decide if they like where you are taking the company. If they decide they don't like what you are doing, then you are out, instantly. Furthermore, you stuff up publicly you will never work again. Its a huge personal risk you are taking. Put a foot wrong and you are out.
The salary is a reflection of what you are hopefully creating for the shareholders - wealth. You are expected to devote yourself full time to this purpose and nothing else.
Most CEO's take the view that if I'm supposed to use my talents to produce millions of dollars for shareholders, then some of it had better rub off on me too.
Slang off if you like, but it isn't as easy as it looks.
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Where do I sign, I'll screw you for a million dollars, what manager wouldn't?
What lures union leaders to sell out their brothers in arms and become company patsies?
It has to be $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ the big winner, because it can't be morals or ethics or anything noble like that.
The question I want answered is who is going to sell us out this time, because with Oldmeadow behind the scenes, their eye would be on someone right now.
What lures union leaders to sell out their brothers in arms and become company patsies?
It has to be $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ the big winner, because it can't be morals or ethics or anything noble like that.
The question I want answered is who is going to sell us out this time, because with Oldmeadow behind the scenes, their eye would be on someone right now.
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No-one says it is easy, I think most of us tire of the double standards evident regarding pay, particularly when the airline is doing well.
Also the lies and spin get tiresome as well.
Also the lies and spin get tiresome as well.
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crikey.com.au
It's on - Qantas vs the unions
By aviation correspondent Pemberton Strong
We told you first folks. It looks like the great showdown of 2004 between Qantas staff and management is now set to happen.
18 October 2004
Qantas' current advertising campaign for its domestic services say there's 'more than a seat' to the business. There certainly is and that is what's upsetting a lot of travelers. The seats are fine. It’s the way Qantas treats passengers into and out of the seats that’s upsetting more and more people.
From the oil price rise levies that have a hint of gouging, to planes delayed, late or cancelled, poor service on the ground, delays at counters, inadequate schedules with services being consolidated at short notice to drive up yields (profits), it's making a bit of a mockery of the Qantas approach to selling itself.
It’s as though the problems are not there.
Then there’s the sour and unhappy staff, no doubt all of whom know of the attempts by the airline to build a strike-breaking force that Crikey has been talking about for more than a month and which finally hit the news today.
Here's our story of September 22. Now Qantas and the Flight attendants union have been told to talk on the issue, as this SMH story says today.
That oil price surcharge drew comments from investment bank, ABN Amro that the price hike was not needed. That naturally challenged the word and wisdom of the airline and chief financial officer Peter Gregg. Here's his defence from Sunday.
All in all tough times for the Roo after its best ever year and the blizzard of reports from the board and CEO Geoff Dixon on the uneveness of playing fields here and overseas.
Of course, no word from chairman 'Dame' Margaret Jackson and CEO Geoff Dixon on attempts to tilt the playing field against its flight attendants ahead of a long-mooted contract brawl later this year.
But with the annual meeting in Brisbane on Thursday the relationship between management and its unions has obviously got the board and chairman alert and alarmed as you can see from this story.
The unions and those stroppy employees are obviously not playing by the rules, the rules the board set. How dare they! And remember the 'Dame' is part of the Business Council of Australia set that wants to see fewer and more restrictive annual meetings.
The 'mushroom club' is headed by Hugh Morgan, the BCA President. Again remember his time at WMC when shareholders were deprived of the chance to vote or consider an 'offer' of more than $10 a share from Alcoa of the US.
Hugh and the 'Dame' obviously don't trust shareholders, especially those stroppy trade unionists, or those better performing industry funds that take corporate governance and shareholder rights very seriously, unlike many of the bigger private enterprise groups.
Union plans for a campaign of planned sickies and other passive resistance were revealed in the Murdoch press last week, drawing a tough-minded response from Roo management as you can see here.
But the court action today, while outlining the plans by Qantas to react to any breakdown of the EBA later this year, has not highlighted the intransigence of Dixon and his management to the union worries about the new London base.
With no agreement so far between Qantas and the Australian Services Union, negotiations for EBA VII have come to a grinding halt. Qantas have given nothing other than maternity/paternity leave which is only legislation anyway so it doesn't cost Qantas anything.
With the AGM due in Brisbane on October 21, it will be interesting to see what shareholders think of the board members, and executives wanting to have the resolution passed that will see them receive higher pay and news bonuses and incentives (especially Dixon and Gregg). The proposed increase in maximum fees for non-executive directors from $1.5 million to $2.5 million looks excessive in the current circumstances and some institutions have indicated they will be voting against it.
On the other hand, the board and management have told staff that 3% pay rise is all they can afford in these troubled times of the airlines. But the company still continues to grow and expand and spend. It will be interesting to see what "Qantas ASU staff" will do if the resolution is passed, and the EBA is still not settled.
So, many questions remain unanswered. Reports from inside the airline say staff feel forgotten and unappreciated by management.
There's some saying the they feel that the spirit of Qantas has abandoned them, even though they are expected to deliver the best in
customer service at all levels at all times.
The treatment of staff by senior management is hypocritical and the opposite to what they expect from their staff. Money has now become a big issue.
==========================================
ABC News Online
Monday, October 18, 2004. 6:09pm (AEST)
Qantas flight attendant talks deadlocked
There has been no progress in talks with Qantas over the hiring of flight attendants on short-term contracts, the Flight Attendants Association says.
The talks were ordered by the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) and the association's Michael Mijatov says the union will seek another hearing.
He says Qantas is using the workers for its own gain.
"They're desperate to get jobs these people, and what they [Qantas] intend to do is actually terminate their employment and give it to people overseas," he said.
"I mean if Qantas is serious they should come out now and say that they'll give these people full-time work."
The Flight Attendants Association claims 300 new flight attendants employed recently are being trained to thwart any strike action over the Christmas period.
The airline denies the workers are being secretly trained as strike breakers.
Qantas executive general manager John Borghetti has rejected the Commissioner's description of the airline's dealings with the union as brief and unhelpful.
"Well, I think one has to look at the totality of the discussions that have been going on between us and the union," he said.
"There hasn't just been one letter, there have been numerous discussions, correspondence over a variety of issues and certainly it wasn't our intention to not continue those discussions.
"It was, in fact, the union that walked away and brought them to an end."
===========================================
It's on - Qantas vs the unions
By aviation correspondent Pemberton Strong
We told you first folks. It looks like the great showdown of 2004 between Qantas staff and management is now set to happen.
18 October 2004
Qantas' current advertising campaign for its domestic services say there's 'more than a seat' to the business. There certainly is and that is what's upsetting a lot of travelers. The seats are fine. It’s the way Qantas treats passengers into and out of the seats that’s upsetting more and more people.
From the oil price rise levies that have a hint of gouging, to planes delayed, late or cancelled, poor service on the ground, delays at counters, inadequate schedules with services being consolidated at short notice to drive up yields (profits), it's making a bit of a mockery of the Qantas approach to selling itself.
It’s as though the problems are not there.
Then there’s the sour and unhappy staff, no doubt all of whom know of the attempts by the airline to build a strike-breaking force that Crikey has been talking about for more than a month and which finally hit the news today.
Here's our story of September 22. Now Qantas and the Flight attendants union have been told to talk on the issue, as this SMH story says today.
That oil price surcharge drew comments from investment bank, ABN Amro that the price hike was not needed. That naturally challenged the word and wisdom of the airline and chief financial officer Peter Gregg. Here's his defence from Sunday.
All in all tough times for the Roo after its best ever year and the blizzard of reports from the board and CEO Geoff Dixon on the uneveness of playing fields here and overseas.
Of course, no word from chairman 'Dame' Margaret Jackson and CEO Geoff Dixon on attempts to tilt the playing field against its flight attendants ahead of a long-mooted contract brawl later this year.
But with the annual meeting in Brisbane on Thursday the relationship between management and its unions has obviously got the board and chairman alert and alarmed as you can see from this story.
The unions and those stroppy employees are obviously not playing by the rules, the rules the board set. How dare they! And remember the 'Dame' is part of the Business Council of Australia set that wants to see fewer and more restrictive annual meetings.
The 'mushroom club' is headed by Hugh Morgan, the BCA President. Again remember his time at WMC when shareholders were deprived of the chance to vote or consider an 'offer' of more than $10 a share from Alcoa of the US.
Hugh and the 'Dame' obviously don't trust shareholders, especially those stroppy trade unionists, or those better performing industry funds that take corporate governance and shareholder rights very seriously, unlike many of the bigger private enterprise groups.
Union plans for a campaign of planned sickies and other passive resistance were revealed in the Murdoch press last week, drawing a tough-minded response from Roo management as you can see here.
But the court action today, while outlining the plans by Qantas to react to any breakdown of the EBA later this year, has not highlighted the intransigence of Dixon and his management to the union worries about the new London base.
With no agreement so far between Qantas and the Australian Services Union, negotiations for EBA VII have come to a grinding halt. Qantas have given nothing other than maternity/paternity leave which is only legislation anyway so it doesn't cost Qantas anything.
With the AGM due in Brisbane on October 21, it will be interesting to see what shareholders think of the board members, and executives wanting to have the resolution passed that will see them receive higher pay and news bonuses and incentives (especially Dixon and Gregg). The proposed increase in maximum fees for non-executive directors from $1.5 million to $2.5 million looks excessive in the current circumstances and some institutions have indicated they will be voting against it.
On the other hand, the board and management have told staff that 3% pay rise is all they can afford in these troubled times of the airlines. But the company still continues to grow and expand and spend. It will be interesting to see what "Qantas ASU staff" will do if the resolution is passed, and the EBA is still not settled.
So, many questions remain unanswered. Reports from inside the airline say staff feel forgotten and unappreciated by management.
There's some saying the they feel that the spirit of Qantas has abandoned them, even though they are expected to deliver the best in
customer service at all levels at all times.
The treatment of staff by senior management is hypocritical and the opposite to what they expect from their staff. Money has now become a big issue.
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ABC News Online
Monday, October 18, 2004. 6:09pm (AEST)
Qantas flight attendant talks deadlocked
There has been no progress in talks with Qantas over the hiring of flight attendants on short-term contracts, the Flight Attendants Association says.
The talks were ordered by the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) and the association's Michael Mijatov says the union will seek another hearing.
He says Qantas is using the workers for its own gain.
"They're desperate to get jobs these people, and what they [Qantas] intend to do is actually terminate their employment and give it to people overseas," he said.
"I mean if Qantas is serious they should come out now and say that they'll give these people full-time work."
The Flight Attendants Association claims 300 new flight attendants employed recently are being trained to thwart any strike action over the Christmas period.
The airline denies the workers are being secretly trained as strike breakers.
Qantas executive general manager John Borghetti has rejected the Commissioner's description of the airline's dealings with the union as brief and unhelpful.
"Well, I think one has to look at the totality of the discussions that have been going on between us and the union," he said.
"There hasn't just been one letter, there have been numerous discussions, correspondence over a variety of issues and certainly it wasn't our intention to not continue those discussions.
"It was, in fact, the union that walked away and brought them to an end."
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Last edited by Wirraway; 18th Oct 2004 at 10:58.
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Are many of the regional airline F/A part of the strike? What would they think if management reduced service on the milk runs to increase capacity on the trunk route during the strike? They would then become strike breakers themselves!
What do the pilots think about this? Do they support the F/A or would they rather see them settle for less?
What do the pilots think about this? Do they support the F/A or would they rather see them settle for less?
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Pilot Problems
Pilots have problems of their own...apathy,division and capitulation in previous EBA`s.The plight of Cabin Crew at this time is the least of their concerns...unfortunately.