Baggage Handlers Industrial Action
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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You have GOT to kidding me....
At a time when governments and airlines are banning more and more from the cabin, and reducing the size of carry-on bags, baggage-handlers come up with this nonsense??
My knife (leatherman), my Maglite torch, my knitting needles, even my bloody toothpaste now HAS to be checked.
Fellas, MORE stuff and MORE weight is being forced into checked luggage. Not less.
Industrial manoeuvring, no doubt....
At a time when governments and airlines are banning more and more from the cabin, and reducing the size of carry-on bags, baggage-handlers come up with this nonsense??
My knife (leatherman), my Maglite torch, my knitting needles, even my bloody toothpaste now HAS to be checked.
Fellas, MORE stuff and MORE weight is being forced into checked luggage. Not less.
Industrial manoeuvring, no doubt....
Back when I were a Lad!!........chucking bags and freight into 737's (no Magic Carpet) and 146's in the NT you would certainly know when you came across a 32 kg bag, heavy tag or not. A 32kg bag is bloody heavy! All the correct "bend ze knees" crap goes out the window when you are bent double in the hold and it's all back and arm strength to get the job done. You unload and load an aircraft manually in a 20 minute turnaround and I guarantee you crawl out of those holds absolutely f**ked. You do it all day and it's got to be doing some damage.
In the BMA's filling/unloading containers? Maybe it's different as the time and workspace constraints are different.
What I always found amusing was if a bag (or toolbox usually) went over the scales above 32kg, the punter would be told that it was too heavy (for the porters to lift) and would have to be broken down into two bags, or consigned as freight. Then they would pay the freight cost, a con note would be slapped on the side and I was now "allowed" to pick it up as it wasn't a "heavy bag" any more!
In the BMA's filling/unloading containers? Maybe it's different as the time and workspace constraints are different.
What I always found amusing was if a bag (or toolbox usually) went over the scales above 32kg, the punter would be told that it was too heavy (for the porters to lift) and would have to be broken down into two bags, or consigned as freight. Then they would pay the freight cost, a con note would be slapped on the side and I was now "allowed" to pick it up as it wasn't a "heavy bag" any more!
Join Date: Nov 2002
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Please do not confuse the baggage handlers in general (like myself) with the QF baggage handlers in question here. Having said that I think quite a lot of the QF baggage handlers would be a tad embarrased by this episode.
If a baggage handler does not feel comfortable lifting a full 32 kg's then the bag should have very distinctive heavy tag and he/she always has a colleague who is more than willing to lend a hand. We do not need union officials to help us in that regard, and surely they have more important issues to tackle.
Or do they?
On another note lifting individual bags is not the only potential cause of injury in a bagroom. For instance try pulling a barrow that weighs 420kgs slightly up hill with approximately 50 bags weighing on average (mentioned earlier??) You do the math! It is damn heavy, but gain, there is always help.
Now that takes care of the poor QF baggage handler that we are trying protect from injury. Isn't that what this issue is all about
If a baggage handler does not feel comfortable lifting a full 32 kg's then the bag should have very distinctive heavy tag and he/she always has a colleague who is more than willing to lend a hand. We do not need union officials to help us in that regard, and surely they have more important issues to tackle.
Or do they?
On another note lifting individual bags is not the only potential cause of injury in a bagroom. For instance try pulling a barrow that weighs 420kgs slightly up hill with approximately 50 bags weighing on average (mentioned earlier??) You do the math! It is damn heavy, but gain, there is always help.
Now that takes care of the poor QF baggage handler that we are trying protect from injury. Isn't that what this issue is all about
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
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I had a fairly detailed post almost finished for this thread and after some reflection I deleted it in favour of the following..........
Sixteen years I suffered, as the operating Surgeon described it;
''An unstable compression fracture of the first lumbar vertebrae''
In other words, a BROKEN BACK!
I have never been, except for maybe a handful of periods of approximately five or so minutes, free of pain.
I have trained myself to generally ignore the pain for most of the day; ie, I don't feel it because I choose not to! I can still walk and fly. For that I am grateful to the brilliance of the Surgeon and the grace of God!
However, mostly in the evenings after a days activities, this is when it manifests itself!!! Unless you have done similar to what I have, do not talk to me about back pain.You have no (expletive deleted) idea!!!
Anything that eases the load (literally) on the baggage loaders has my full support. Sure they may be able to handle heavy load now, but the 'wear and tear' builds up over the years and, when you get to your 50s as I am now, suddenly it hits you! In my case it is more so.
Sixteen years I suffered, as the operating Surgeon described it;
''An unstable compression fracture of the first lumbar vertebrae''
In other words, a BROKEN BACK!
I have never been, except for maybe a handful of periods of approximately five or so minutes, free of pain.
I have trained myself to generally ignore the pain for most of the day; ie, I don't feel it because I choose not to! I can still walk and fly. For that I am grateful to the brilliance of the Surgeon and the grace of God!However, mostly in the evenings after a days activities, this is when it manifests itself!!! Unless you have done similar to what I have, do not talk to me about back pain.You have no (expletive deleted) idea!!!
Anything that eases the load (literally) on the baggage loaders has my full support. Sure they may be able to handle heavy load now, but the 'wear and tear' builds up over the years and, when you get to your 50s as I am now, suddenly it hits you! In my case it is more so.
Join Date: Sep 1999
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Makes me laugh. Air NZ have just released their latest brainwave for domestic passengers...you will be charged for the number of bags you check in. First one is free, second one is (say) $20, the 3rd and subsequent ones $30 each......but the one free bag can weigh up to 30kg. Effectively they want to reduce the number of bags people check in to save time, but in doing so have actually financially induced people to have heavier single bags.
Don't tell the Air NZ loaders that anything over 20kg is too much...or maybe the "big boys" they use (especially the Mangere locals in Auckland) are a bit stronger than their Aussie counterparts?
Don't tell the Air NZ loaders that anything over 20kg is too much...or maybe the "big boys" they use (especially the Mangere locals in Auckland) are a bit stronger than their Aussie counterparts?
Join Date: Sep 2005
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wheat stackers
i remember the wheat stackers from before bulk loaded wheat. they are the same old blokes who live in my home town using walking sticks and zimmer frames to get around now because their backs are completely stuffed.
oh+s is now used by mgmt to dodge responsibility, why not use it against them so the baggage handlers can have a reasonable life in retirement?
oh+s is now used by mgmt to dodge responsibility, why not use it against them so the baggage handlers can have a reasonable life in retirement?
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maximus......I know what you mean and I think I've seen him a few times.It's good to have pax like him though because they give us a good laugh in the galley repeating his inane drivel.
Funny that just about all FF's say the same thing.....
"Do you realise who I am ?.....I'm a FF.....I fly with you all the time...I'm a personal friend of ....(substitute current board member or CEO) "
The hardest part is not to laugh when they give their inflated opinion of themselves and informing you that the business world and the planet in general would not be able to exist without them.
The other sure sign of most FF's which is relevant to this topic of bag weight limits is a coat cover that is so large you could fit a small car in them as well as the obligatory lap top,cabin bag weighing a ton and then asking/demanding the fin review before they've even got to their seat.
PAF... do you fly on tax payers money or do you actually work in the private sector now?
I'm a Plat. FF and travel to the US on a regular basis
"Do you realise who I am ?.....I'm a FF.....I fly with you all the time...I'm a personal friend of ....(substitute current board member or CEO) "
The hardest part is not to laugh when they give their inflated opinion of themselves and informing you that the business world and the planet in general would not be able to exist without them.
The other sure sign of most FF's which is relevant to this topic of bag weight limits is a coat cover that is so large you could fit a small car in them as well as the obligatory lap top,cabin bag weighing a ton and then asking/demanding the fin review before they've even got to their seat.
PAF... do you fly on tax payers money or do you actually work in the private sector now?
Join Date: May 2000
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PAF... do you fly on tax payers money or do you actually work in the private sector now?
No one deserves to live with back pain for the rest of their lives just because some incosiderate toss SLF wants to load an extra 10kg in their bags. The 20kg proposal sounds reasonable to me.
I sustained a permanent back injury at 21 years of age while serving in the Army. Caused by heavy lifting in cofined spaces (trucks/aircraft) and made far worse by job requirements (parachuting, off road motorcycle riding).
I coped well enough to get through aircrew medicals but when I finally discharged I found it nearly impossible to get another job. I would always get through testing and interviews, only to be knocked back on the grounds that I had sustained a back injury in the past and they did not want to be liable for any re-injury. I eventually did get a decent job (by not informing them-doesn't pay to be honest sometimes) and have had no dramas.
As long as I keep fit I am relatively pain free and can do anything, but aerobatics are still a bit of a killer. If I couldn't work I would be stuffed, compensation is a joke and the thought of not being able to work when still young would be soul destroying.
The success of qantas and other airlines rides on the back (literally) of their operational staff. They should be looked after and should not have to break themselves just so GD can make a bigger bonus.
I sustained a permanent back injury at 21 years of age while serving in the Army. Caused by heavy lifting in cofined spaces (trucks/aircraft) and made far worse by job requirements (parachuting, off road motorcycle riding).
I coped well enough to get through aircrew medicals but when I finally discharged I found it nearly impossible to get another job. I would always get through testing and interviews, only to be knocked back on the grounds that I had sustained a back injury in the past and they did not want to be liable for any re-injury. I eventually did get a decent job (by not informing them-doesn't pay to be honest sometimes) and have had no dramas.
As long as I keep fit I am relatively pain free and can do anything, but aerobatics are still a bit of a killer. If I couldn't work I would be stuffed, compensation is a joke and the thought of not being able to work when still young would be soul destroying.
The success of qantas and other airlines rides on the back (literally) of their operational staff. They should be looked after and should not have to break themselves just so GD can make a bigger bonus.
