Airline Redundancies
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Airline Redundancies
With VB, QF, and J* all hurting as the result of the current soaring oil prices, who will be the first to start making pilots redundant and how much will it take before this starts?
Nunc est bibendum
It'll be a while before QF needs to go down this road. Currently rostered hours on all aircraft and all ranks are still close to max. They can easily decrease these by about 10% without affecting the establishment. A 10% reduction in QF's ASK is a very, very large number and I think unlikely in the short to medium term.
Further, many QF crew- not A330 though- are sitting on LOTS of accumulated annual leave and long service leave. I spoke to a crew member a few weeks back who thought that his last annual leave may have been in 2005 but wasn't sure as it had been that long that he couldn't remember. I'm not a fan of handing leave back but even I have in excess of 100 days annual leave and 117 of long service owing to me. It won't be less than that by August next year due to the vagaries of the QF leave system.
Therefore there are lots of ways that excess crew can be managed in the short to medium term....especially given that QFs fleet is actually still expanding- despite what they try and spin in the media.
Further, many QF crew- not A330 though- are sitting on LOTS of accumulated annual leave and long service leave. I spoke to a crew member a few weeks back who thought that his last annual leave may have been in 2005 but wasn't sure as it had been that long that he couldn't remember. I'm not a fan of handing leave back but even I have in excess of 100 days annual leave and 117 of long service owing to me. It won't be less than that by August next year due to the vagaries of the QF leave system.
Therefore there are lots of ways that excess crew can be managed in the short to medium term....especially given that QFs fleet is actually still expanding- despite what they try and spin in the media.
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I think Keg is on the money.
Within established airlines a downturn in flying is an opportunity to shed excess leave accumulated in the good times.
Well managed, nobody suffers.
Not true for all though.
Within established airlines a downturn in flying is an opportunity to shed excess leave accumulated in the good times.
Well managed, nobody suffers.
Not true for all though.
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Currently virgin still have 3 upgrade courses going on and another 2 just announced for both types. So currently numbers are ok. They have said however they will defer delivery of some of the EMBs next year. So that will only effect new hires and upgrades for next year.
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...and as of today QF are now suggesting taking out up to 14% of its flying capacity!
Read it here... Stand by for more cuts, says Qantas - Travel - smh.com.au
Bo!
Read it here... Stand by for more cuts, says Qantas - Travel - smh.com.au
Bo!
Smoke & Mirrors
Ryan, the previous announcement re QF grounding 2 B763's and 4 B743's was a statement for the digestion of the media and the public to promote doom and gloom in the midst of a very public dispute between QF management and the ALAEA. These retirements of aircraft had always been planned so the net effect on mainline is zilch.
Dixon is renowned for sprouting the end of civilisation just to achieve his industrial agendas.
Dixon is renowned for sprouting the end of civilisation just to achieve his industrial agendas.
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Anybody got any relatives in the commercial side of the company? Just curious to see if they are doing their usual 4 yr cycle of stripping the company of experienced staff, amalgamating sections, and basically completely destroying morale, and causing fear and distress amoungst the survivers. Its almost a sport in QF, who survives who doesn't.
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Teresa Green that is the best description I have ever heard for the operation of Qantas. Not only does the whole aviation industry go through peaks and troughs but QF uses the super model diet of binge and purge, but it always seems to leave a nasty taste in the mouth of those left behind.
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He isn't sweating, he doesn't care.
There will be a big announcement soon, maybe A380 delivery or something else like the olympics.
Guys like him don't hang around and see something through, they run away and leave the mess they created for the next tool...
There will be a big announcement soon, maybe A380 delivery or something else like the olympics.
Guys like him don't hang around and see something through, they run away and leave the mess they created for the next tool...
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Well, there it is folks, yesterday, in the Australian, 1000 staff members. The Great Qantas Staff hunt is now on, open season has begun. This is the time The Grim Reaper strikes. No good hiding in cupboards, up APUs, or in the canteen, the snivelling little bastards they hire to find you and give you your matching orders, can sniff out a cowering staffie from 100ft. Never mind you have a car loan, rent, three kids, and have been totally loyal for whatever years, YOU are redundant. You are probably experienced, hard working, and given the company 101% and probably a very decent human being, tough! However if you are a first class B%#ch, and a dobber, or a miserable ar#@h#le who has the ability to look like you know what you are doing (but doesn't) you are probably safe. (This present bit of info is gleaned from QF's past sackings) so the rest of us are sorry for you, and hope things work out in the future, and we also appreciate what you did, to keep QF going in spite of the Ar#eholes who tried to destroy it, we wish you well.
short flights long nights
Teresa..can you link to this article??
Quite some years ago, after more than 10 years in the industry I found myself once again being made redundant. It happens, and at that time I had already lost 2 previous flying jobs due to the GA outfits I was working for going out of business. This time it was an airline, and the staff cuts were due to a commercial miscalculation by the board. What I remember vividly about that time was the attitude of the Middle manager tasked with our dismissal.
Cold words to the effect of..."You are now surplus to requirements. Please ensure that you have handed in all your uniforms and manuals by such and such date..., If we are in need of your services in the future we will call you, don't call us..." This bloke had been with the company less time than me. Held a bare CPL, and had an accounting background. He made little effort to hide the fact that we were a dime a dozen, and that the really important people were those such as himself, and most certainly not the pilots who in fact made up the largest employee group.
Eventually, most of us were offered our old jobs back (with a pay cut). Some had moved on, but most were just happy just to be flying again. Some years later this same ar@#h#le was himself uncerimoniously dumped when he became "surplus to requirements". Karma? Who knows.
I guess what I'm trying to say teresa, is that you are absolutely right. Little has changed in the way airlines in this country treat their staff. Is it any wonder that fewer Australians are now learning to fly. The mongrel tactics of the past keep repeating themselves in the name of commercial expediency. Maybe that's just the way it is. Rest assured however, there will always be a Judas willing to accept a handfull of silver to do the bosses dirty work.
Cold words to the effect of..."You are now surplus to requirements. Please ensure that you have handed in all your uniforms and manuals by such and such date..., If we are in need of your services in the future we will call you, don't call us..." This bloke had been with the company less time than me. Held a bare CPL, and had an accounting background. He made little effort to hide the fact that we were a dime a dozen, and that the really important people were those such as himself, and most certainly not the pilots who in fact made up the largest employee group.
Eventually, most of us were offered our old jobs back (with a pay cut). Some had moved on, but most were just happy just to be flying again. Some years later this same ar@#h#le was himself uncerimoniously dumped when he became "surplus to requirements". Karma? Who knows.
I guess what I'm trying to say teresa, is that you are absolutely right. Little has changed in the way airlines in this country treat their staff. Is it any wonder that fewer Australians are now learning to fly. The mongrel tactics of the past keep repeating themselves in the name of commercial expediency. Maybe that's just the way it is. Rest assured however, there will always be a Judas willing to accept a handfull of silver to do the bosses dirty work.
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Ryan, the previous announcement re QF grounding 2 B763's and 4 B743's was a statement for the digestion of the media and the public to promote doom and gloom in the midst of a very public dispute between QF management and the ALAEA. These retirements of aircraft had always been planned so the net effect on mainline is zilch.
Dixon is renowned for sprouting the end of civilisation just to achieve his industrial agendas
Dixon is renowned for sprouting the end of civilisation just to achieve his industrial agendas
The current delivery list:
>30 B738s
65 - 110 B787s
12 - 20 A380s.
At least 107 more aircraft are on the way. Recent media statements by QF claim that the new B738s will "augment, not replace" the B734s.
Never mind you have a car loan, rent, three kids, and have been totally loyal for whatever years, YOU are redundant. You are probably experienced, hard working, and given the company 101% and probably a very decent human being, tough!
One thing this whole thing has given me, is that I no longer fear being made redundant. Indeed I welcome it now. I used to be proud to work for QF, now I'm embarrassed to admit it. And if they don't make me redundant, they WILL pay me a fair wage. Simple really. Until either of the above, they are stuck with a disengaged LAME on the go-slow, just hunting for a reason to deck an aircraft rather than a reason to keep it flying. What the Hell, if I'm going to be continually accused of it, I won't disappoint anybody by living up to the smear put upon all LAMEs by senior management & QF execs. Reap what you sow!
