An opportunity not to be missed!
Yes: Keep your eyes on the ball
DON'T CONFUSE INDUSTRIAL ISSUES WITH SAFETY. IT MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE A FOOL.
"Minimum rest breaks" is a safety issue. "Pilots whose wages are so low they can't afford to live properly" is an industrial issue. Of course it may lead to a safety issue, but that's a level of indirect relationship that simply does not survive in the public's mind.
The politicians get ruthless coaching in "Staying on message". The public thinks all pilots are heroes and they would love to support you: but you guys must learn to stay on message! Study Tony Abbot and Julia Gillard. You don't have to vote for them, but learn the technique :-)
If you have a safety issue, don't talk about wages or conditions. That's what the wharfies did, and that did not end well.
Cheers
I dunno John, you're probably right and maybe I'm not as cynical as I thought. One thing's for certain though, the families of the victims of the Colgan crash (many well heeled) were absolutely flabagasted when made aware of the T&C's of the pilots who were entrusted with their loved ones lives on that dark snowy night.
It may not be on message, or fashionable to mention pilots being exploited, but it'll sure as hell feature right in the public's face if we see a similar accident here!
It may not be on message, or fashionable to mention pilots being exploited, but it'll sure as hell feature right in the public's face if we see a similar accident here!
You may not be cynical, but I am :-)
I dunno John, you're probably right and maybe I'm not as cynical as I thought. One thing's for certain though, the families of the victims of the Colgan crash (many well heeled) were absolutely flabagasted when made aware of the T&C's of the pilots who were entrusted with their loved ones lives on that dark snowy night.
Let me clarify: I am not suggesting not talking about Industrial Issues: I am simply suggesting that you will achieve your desired results much more reliably if you do not join them with other issues.
Among the many reasons for the Colgan crash it is reported that these pilots were too tired to fly. That's a safety issue.
Obviously, the did not have the power to call in and say "Sorry, I haven't had enough sleep, I am not fit to fly." That's a safety issue.
And their boss knew, or should have known, that they were under-trained. That's a safety issue.
There are ALSO Industrial issues. I am sure Colgan has some. I am sure every airline has some.
Industrial issues deserve and require plenty of media space. As much as you can get
That's the job of your union. When I was in a union, I was very vigorous in demanding that it represented my interests with any resources at its disposal.My point is simply that when you mix "Safety Issues" and "Industrial Issues" in the same story, you lose your public, you lose your regulators, and you lose your battle.
Of course you should raise Industrial Issues. That's what unions are for. And of course you should raise safety issues: you are the only ones who can.
But never, ever, risk presenting an Industrial Issue as, or intermingled with, a safety issue. Because the moment you do that, you lose your credibility. Your "brand image", of you like. And that's your only weapon, so try NOT to misplace it!
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Saftey Issues (not industrial)
JQ must be one of the only airlines in the world where captains are asked to consitantly fly 1000hrs a year, and to supervise inexperienced cadet FO's while doing four sector days into CTAF's with 30m wide runways.
Something is going to give...
JQ must be one of the only airlines in the world where captains are asked to consitantly fly 1000hrs a year, and to supervise inexperienced cadet FO's while doing four sector days into CTAF's with 30m wide runways.
Something is going to give...
I do see where you're coming from John.
It'll be interesting however if (God forbid) one goes in, and the Families exclaim, "They were paid what!" But as always the self interested Psychopaths running the show will continue to hide behind a self promoted air of respectability in their quest to save the travelling public from those greedy pilots.
It'll be interesting however if (God forbid) one goes in, and the Families exclaim, "They were paid what!" But as always the self interested Psychopaths running the show will continue to hide behind a self promoted air of respectability in their quest to save the travelling public from those greedy pilots.
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How does 2.5% become 26%?
The politicians get ruthless coaching in "Staying on message". The public thinks all pilots are heroes and they would love to support you: but you guys must learn to stay on message!
I believe this video pretty much sums up the spin at Qantas, when it suits the management the pilots are fantastic, the hypocrisy of it all, it makes no sense to stretch the truth as AJ did on national TV.
If the pilots stay on a simple message the public/punters will see through it all, a bit like the Sol Trujillo days at Telstra, take the money and run. This style of airline management is beginning to tire, and I feel AJ shot himself in the foot with his answers to the last two questions, he answered poorly.
Last edited by TIMA9X; 27th Feb 2011 at 21:09.
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Krusty, I'm sure that they'd use the term "World's best practice" in their defence.
Krusty, I'm sure that they'd use the term "World's best practice" in their defence.
Video - Chocks away! Learn to fly a 737 in 30 mins - The Sydney Morning Herald
Efficient | Define Efficient at Dictionary.com
satisfactory and economical to use: Our new air conditioner is more efficient than our old one.
or
utilizing a particular commodity or product with maximum efficiency (usually used in combination): a fuel-efficient engine.
or
utilizing a particular commodity or product with maximum efficiency (usually used in combination): a fuel-efficient engine.
Chocks away! Learn to fly a 737 in 30 mins (04:04)
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The public thinks all pilots are heroes and they would love to support you
a) The Oz public doesn't give a **** about pilots. It has its own problems to deal with, like trying to keep its financial head above water.
b) The "cutting down of tall poppies" cultural syndrome is alive and well. The hope was Gen Y would bury this defect but that hasn't happened. At the end of the day pilots are still perceived as overpaid glorified bus drivers as it ever was, despite the reality of the opposite. Forget those unreliable idiotic tabloid polls and get out more - mix with the Unwashed and get the true picture.
There are other reasons but why waste time stating the obvious?
If Mr McGhie really is 60yo then he of all people should be familiar with Australian industrial history and public manipulation.
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I had a yarn to a jetstar Capt in MEL finishing his Singapore return the other day, he was working with another capt. When I asked if he was on a check, he replied jetstar were short of FO's primarily because no one is being upgraded to FO on the Aus EBA. This is why they asking for FO's based in NZ on 65k so they can avoid the Aus EBA just like they are currently doing with every new recruit on the 320. What are you guys at Jetstar doing about this? How the hell are you letting these guys break the law and have all new hires be put on the NZ contract to be "domiciled" in Australia? Surely you have a big case if not one person has been hired on the Aussie EBA for I don't know how long!!?? Doesn't this make a mokery of a collective agreement signed in good faith by the company and it's employees? Pitch in and hire an employment lawyer for Christ sake!
The 330 capt also mentioned that Jetstar were about to get a rude awakening with captains leaving to work for air china based in SYD. But I guess Jetstar will just hire new captains on a NZ 320 capt salary to replace them.
Grow some nuts boys and girls in Jetstar. It seems the only nuts are in management and they're having a right ol time.
The 330 capt also mentioned that Jetstar were about to get a rude awakening with captains leaving to work for air china based in SYD. But I guess Jetstar will just hire new captains on a NZ 320 capt salary to replace them.
Grow some nuts boys and girls in Jetstar. It seems the only nuts are in management and they're having a right ol time.
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Pitch in and hire an employment lawyer for Christ sake!
Where is AIPA on this?
Where is AIPA on this?
If you were a member of AIPA you would be aware of this.
