Merged: Joe Eakins: Brave?....or....
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: L'Alpe D'Huez
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Article
Can I ask exactly what FO Eakins has written which would be contrary to any airline policy. To the best of my knowledge, the article in question pertained to deteriorating conditions amongst airline pilots in general due to various factors.
I believed it was a very articulate human interest story written by an A330 FO who just happens to work for JQ. Since I can co longer find the article I would really appreciate anyone posting the possibly contravening material.
I believed it was a very articulate human interest story written by an A330 FO who just happens to work for JQ. Since I can co longer find the article I would really appreciate anyone posting the possibly contravening material.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: On a long enough timeline the survival rate for everyone is zero
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can still recall the first time I looked skyward to watch a jumbo jet soar overhead. As a 10-year-old growing up in the late 1980s, I dreamed that one day I would be at the controls of one of those mighty machines as it roared through the skies.
After 10 years as a pilot, currently as a First Officer on Airbus A330's, the thrill is still there.
But the next generation of youngsters with the same dream may never realise it, with the latest cost-cutting attempts by airline bean counters threatening the very existence of an Australian aviation sector.
Jetstar have led the way, recently announcing a plan to cut pilot labour costs by hiring crew for several new Australian-registered A330 aircraft, operated under Australian Air Operator's Certificates, out of Singapore where they will employ air crew on wages well below their Australian-based colleagues.
While they are offering the jobs to Australian pilots first, albeit on contracts that cut basic remuneration by almost 50 per cent, the remaining positions will be filled out of Singapore and Vietnam.
This follows similar moves with their New Zealand-based JetConnect subsidiary, that pays pilots about 70 per cent of their Australian colleagues' wages, and the "offshoring" of a large proportion of Jetstar's Australian-based international flight attendants to Thailand and Singapore.
Many of these Australian employees have been replaced by workers flown in from "bases of convenience" in Singapore and Bangkok on employment conditions well below the applicable Australian award.
While the conditions of flight crew have come under the knife, Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan has been promoted by creating an additional layer of management between himself and operational staff, and in doing so has been rewarded with a 43 per cent pay rise.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has also joined the cause, last week accusing pilots of being in "cloud-cuckoo land" for opposing the offshoring of jobs, saying: "The fact is that we are in a highly competitive market, we need to have an Asian carrier with Asian rates." The irony of this statement is that the Qantas Group already has two Asian carriers with Asian rates, Jetstar Asia and Jetstar Pacific.
What Joyce is trying to do is to distract the public gaze from the real point of contention, which is having an Australian carrier operating on Australian routes, but having employees paid "Asian rates" through artificially manufactured overseas bases.
The Australian and International Pilot's Association, which represents the majority of Jetstar pilots, is taking legal action arguing that pilots flying Australian aircraft on Australian routes should be paid the same wages as local crew, whether they are flying out of New Zealand or Singapore.
Pilots, through AIPA, have also expressed concern regarding the company's desire to undermine the pilot seniority system as a mechanism for promotion, which is standard practice in almost all the world's respected Airlines.
While the new Jetstar contracts that promote pilots according to "merit" may sound like a good idea, it is important to take a closer look. Airline pilots, like many other professionals, are paid as much to refuse to do certain things as they are to get the job done. Every day in the life of a professional airline pilot is spent evaluating risks and determining the safest course of action. Sometimes this safest course of action will be at odds with the short-term commercial imperatives of the company.
A pilot operating within a seniority system has no incentive to take risks or break the rules to appease management and increase their chances of promotion. Conversely a pilot operating under the "merit"-based promotion system, particularly in a company that views cost saving as its fundamental value, will be under implicit pressure to please management or risk their career advancement prospects.
These disputes have broad implications for all Australians. Firstly, our reputation for aviation excellence has been built on the dedication, training, hard work and experience of local pilots over many decades, a culture that will be obliterated if the offshoring push continues and the proven and effective seniority system is scrapped.
Secondly, Jetstar has demonstrated that, while WorkChoices may be "dead and buried", the new Fair Work Act can be circumvented and draconian workplace conditions can be imposed through the use of foreign "bases of convenience", allowing Australian operations to be staffed with people on Third World wages and working conditions.
Already young pilots who have successfully completed recruitment with Jetstar Australia have been contacted by the company and offered New Zealand or Singaporean contracts on unfavourable terms.
The Australian aviation sector is at a crossroads. Not only are the dreams of the youngsters who look skyward at risk, but the institutions that created our reputation for safety through well trained experienced pilots is under threat, which is bad news for all Australians.
Joseph Eakins is a Jetstar A330 First Officer and a member of the Australian and International Pilot's Association.
After 10 years as a pilot, currently as a First Officer on Airbus A330's, the thrill is still there.
But the next generation of youngsters with the same dream may never realise it, with the latest cost-cutting attempts by airline bean counters threatening the very existence of an Australian aviation sector.
Jetstar have led the way, recently announcing a plan to cut pilot labour costs by hiring crew for several new Australian-registered A330 aircraft, operated under Australian Air Operator's Certificates, out of Singapore where they will employ air crew on wages well below their Australian-based colleagues.
While they are offering the jobs to Australian pilots first, albeit on contracts that cut basic remuneration by almost 50 per cent, the remaining positions will be filled out of Singapore and Vietnam.
This follows similar moves with their New Zealand-based JetConnect subsidiary, that pays pilots about 70 per cent of their Australian colleagues' wages, and the "offshoring" of a large proportion of Jetstar's Australian-based international flight attendants to Thailand and Singapore.
Many of these Australian employees have been replaced by workers flown in from "bases of convenience" in Singapore and Bangkok on employment conditions well below the applicable Australian award.
While the conditions of flight crew have come under the knife, Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan has been promoted by creating an additional layer of management between himself and operational staff, and in doing so has been rewarded with a 43 per cent pay rise.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has also joined the cause, last week accusing pilots of being in "cloud-cuckoo land" for opposing the offshoring of jobs, saying: "The fact is that we are in a highly competitive market, we need to have an Asian carrier with Asian rates." The irony of this statement is that the Qantas Group already has two Asian carriers with Asian rates, Jetstar Asia and Jetstar Pacific.
What Joyce is trying to do is to distract the public gaze from the real point of contention, which is having an Australian carrier operating on Australian routes, but having employees paid "Asian rates" through artificially manufactured overseas bases.
The Australian and International Pilot's Association, which represents the majority of Jetstar pilots, is taking legal action arguing that pilots flying Australian aircraft on Australian routes should be paid the same wages as local crew, whether they are flying out of New Zealand or Singapore.
Pilots, through AIPA, have also expressed concern regarding the company's desire to undermine the pilot seniority system as a mechanism for promotion, which is standard practice in almost all the world's respected Airlines.
While the new Jetstar contracts that promote pilots according to "merit" may sound like a good idea, it is important to take a closer look. Airline pilots, like many other professionals, are paid as much to refuse to do certain things as they are to get the job done. Every day in the life of a professional airline pilot is spent evaluating risks and determining the safest course of action. Sometimes this safest course of action will be at odds with the short-term commercial imperatives of the company.
A pilot operating within a seniority system has no incentive to take risks or break the rules to appease management and increase their chances of promotion. Conversely a pilot operating under the "merit"-based promotion system, particularly in a company that views cost saving as its fundamental value, will be under implicit pressure to please management or risk their career advancement prospects.
These disputes have broad implications for all Australians. Firstly, our reputation for aviation excellence has been built on the dedication, training, hard work and experience of local pilots over many decades, a culture that will be obliterated if the offshoring push continues and the proven and effective seniority system is scrapped.
Secondly, Jetstar has demonstrated that, while WorkChoices may be "dead and buried", the new Fair Work Act can be circumvented and draconian workplace conditions can be imposed through the use of foreign "bases of convenience", allowing Australian operations to be staffed with people on Third World wages and working conditions.
Already young pilots who have successfully completed recruitment with Jetstar Australia have been contacted by the company and offered New Zealand or Singaporean contracts on unfavourable terms.
The Australian aviation sector is at a crossroads. Not only are the dreams of the youngsters who look skyward at risk, but the institutions that created our reputation for safety through well trained experienced pilots is under threat, which is bad news for all Australians.
Joseph Eakins is a Jetstar A330 First Officer and a member of the Australian and International Pilot's Association.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 509
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Isn't libel the communication of a statement that makes a claim, expressly stated or implied to be factual, that may give an individual, business, product, group, government, or nation a negative image?
If so, does his story cross these lines and put him at risk of legal action since he is an employee of Jetstar?
The Qantas Group Code of Conduct policy would be pretty explicit surrounding this...
If so, does his story cross these lines and put him at risk of legal action since he is an employee of Jetstar?
The Qantas Group Code of Conduct policy would be pretty explicit surrounding this...
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
T-vasis, as the title of the thread says...." Brave?....or....". I'd say extremely brave. Not something I'd do, each to their own.
Borderline heroic, the stuff legends are made of? Certainly a man with a backbone no doubt. One for the lawyers.
As I said though, will they put out the fire by throwing fuel on it? Joe's saviour it might be.
Borderline heroic, the stuff legends are made of? Certainly a man with a backbone no doubt. One for the lawyers.
As I said though, will they put out the fire by throwing fuel on it? Joe's saviour it might be.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: south pacific vagrant
Posts: 1,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
...Isn't libel the communication of a statement that makes a claim, expressly stated or implied to be factual...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Roguesville, cloud cuckooland
Posts: 1,197
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes
on
5 Posts
It doesn't matter if it is libelious or not. If there is a clause in the J* contract, or a clause in the FAM that prohibits public comment, and you go ahead and comment whilst clearly identified as a Jetstar (or QF) employee, then you are exposed.
The pros and cons of what you write don't really come into it.
The pros and cons of what you write don't really come into it.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: US
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would be arguing that he was representing AIPA when the comments were made, and as such, does enjoy some protection under industrial legislation.
Would this be enough to save him ?
I guess the lawyers will be busy.
Would this be enough to save him ?
I guess the lawyers will be busy.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Roguesville, cloud cuckooland
Posts: 1,197
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes
on
5 Posts
Sorry if it appears I am critical of Joe here, I am not. What he said was his opinion, and is correct. If Jetstar censure him or worse, I think it would be in all our interests to do something about it.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: London-Thailand-Australia
Age: 15
Posts: 1,057
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If Jetstar censure him or worse, I think it would be in all our interests to do something about it.
It would be easy to make the lawyers defending management look stupid if more pilots spoke up in this case. For me, it is always a sign that management is in "panic mode" when it calls in the lawyers to complicate a sensitive issue, increasing public awareness that may backfire on the very managers who implemented this legal action. It is my view, a complete waste of time and money but the end game could possibly remove a couple of managers from their posts if pilots united and did "something about it."
On this issue I firmly believe pilots would have overwhelming support from the traveling public if it was again brought to their attention..... think about it.
Last edited by TIMA9X; 29th Oct 2010 at 11:01.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Darwin
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Fallout
According to sources, Jetstar today terminated the employment of Joe Eakin.
Their reasons include '..particularly in relation to making unauthorised public statements about the Company, and engaging in activity which could by association cause public embarrassment or harm to Jetstar’s business, interests and reputation.'
What to do?
Their reasons include '..particularly in relation to making unauthorised public statements about the Company, and engaging in activity which could by association cause public embarrassment or harm to Jetstar’s business, interests and reputation.'
What to do?
The other bit of politics that I read into this is that they are making an example of Joe because he is a member (about to be a COM member) of AIPA. Jetstar management are desperate to keep AIPA out of any J* Pilot EBA negotiations - they are more likely to get their way with the AFAP being the industrial body representing Jetstar pilots.
I'm sure that AIPA will be throwing all of its resources behind Joe to ensure that he is reinstated and he has the full support of both mainline and Jetstar pilots.
I'm sure that AIPA will be throwing all of its resources behind Joe to ensure that he is reinstated and he has the full support of both mainline and Jetstar pilots.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Termination
Should The Rumor Of Termination Of F/o Eakins Be True, The Management Of Jq Must Be Barking Mad.any Subsequent Court Case Will Result In The Exposure Of jetstar's Dirty Linen. As The Executives Are Put On The Witness Stand.it Would Be Hard For Any Competently Instructed Jury To Find Sufficient Grounds For Such Action.
This Apart From Any Further Debasement Of Morale In The Frontline Staff.this Has Shades Of The Mismanagement Of Ansett By Air New Zealand,surely One Of The Worst Cases In Modern Business History.you Can Only Lead From The Front,you Cannott Drive From The Rear.
An Outsider I Have Watched The Remarkable Job Done By Alan Joyce To Take Jetstar From A Standing Start To A Stand Out Sucess. If Current Management Cannott See Beyond The Next Executive Bonus, We Are Witnessing The Demise Of What Could Have Beeen One Of The World Outstanding Airlines.
This Apart From Any Further Debasement Of Morale In The Frontline Staff.this Has Shades Of The Mismanagement Of Ansett By Air New Zealand,surely One Of The Worst Cases In Modern Business History.you Can Only Lead From The Front,you Cannott Drive From The Rear.
An Outsider I Have Watched The Remarkable Job Done By Alan Joyce To Take Jetstar From A Standing Start To A Stand Out Sucess. If Current Management Cannott See Beyond The Next Executive Bonus, We Are Witnessing The Demise Of What Could Have Beeen One Of The World Outstanding Airlines.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: in the classroom of life
Age: 55
Posts: 6,864
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Its time for the rest of you....YES ALL OF YOU...to grow some balls.
I am not a union supporter, I am a liberal voter, but I believe in fair employers.
This is wrong. I know some JQ folk in senior positions, and lets say single digits on the seniority list, and they think the recent JQ attempts suck.......this just highlights the case and I am sure if handled correctly some ground could be made here.
I would suggest that you all band together, and even sponsor his wages from donations until he wins in the courts...........and he should. I am even prepared to chip in....and I do not work in the industry.
What do you folk reckon?
Man or Mouse......................pass the cheese?
I am not a union supporter, I am a liberal voter, but I believe in fair employers.
This is wrong. I know some JQ folk in senior positions, and lets say single digits on the seniority list, and they think the recent JQ attempts suck.......this just highlights the case and I am sure if handled correctly some ground could be made here.
I would suggest that you all band together, and even sponsor his wages from donations until he wins in the courts...........and he should. I am even prepared to chip in....and I do not work in the industry.
What do you folk reckon?
Man or Mouse......................pass the cheese?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: gold coast QLD australia
Age: 86
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jabawocky, right on. Virgin give this man a job. AIPA get this out in the media. JQ hang your head in shame. This young bloke had the balls to say what was going on, he deserves better. Fellow pilots they cannot sack the whole lot of you. Worked in 89 won't work now. Support him.