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Old 20th Jul 2011, 02:21
  #161 (permalink)  
 
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Qantas International faces 'tough' changes warns chief executive Alan Joyce

from the Australian,


NEXT month's announcement on restructuring Qantas International will signal the start of phased but tough transformation of the airline over coming years that could include replicating the airline's successful frequent flyer scheme offshore. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce raised the prospect in a speech at a Sydney aviation conference today that was also likely to heighten speculation of a full-service offshoot in Asia.
Mr Joyce told the Australia Pacific Aviation Outlook Summit that the airline's review of its international operations would aim to keep Qantas Australia's leading premium airline while strengthening the focus on alliances, reviewing non-performing business segments and expanding in Asia.
"Change is always tough," he said. "But the competitive challenges we face make major change essential and our commitment to the change process is absolute.
"I believe we have a major opportunity to go beyond the natural limitations of our market size and geography, to become a champion Australian company in a globalised region and world."


Mr Joyce reiterated the airline's interest in Asia and China and pointed to Jetstar's rapid expansion in the region.
He said there was also an enormous opportunity to leverage the mainline carrier's excellence in brand management, aviation safety and other skills.
And in what appears to be a reference to a potential Asian full-service airline, Mr Joyce said the company saw continuing opportunities for the Jetstar model and "lessons to be learned for Qantas".
"I want to see both our airline brands maximising their global potential," he said, adding that the frequent flyer program was also "a business model than can be replicated in other markets".
Mr Joyce also used the speech to attack union leaders pursuing industrial action for being out of touch and blocking new business models.
He said new maintenance regulations issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to bring Australia into line with Europe recognised the enormous advances in aviation technologies.
The new regulations were a huge step forward for aviation safety that Qantas was capitalising on through a new system called Project Marlin.
The largest and most complex IT project ever undertaken by Qantas engineering, Mr Joyce said Marlin allowed Qantas to look at a sophisticated database and get an instant maintenance update on any aircraft anywhere in the world.
The airline would start with its Airbus A380s and progressively phase in the rest of the fleet in what represented the biggest improvement to the airline's maintenance systems since record keeping began.
"More broadly, Qantas is spending billions on next generation aircraft with advanced computer systems linked to ground systems to enable the detailed monitoring of aviation performance in real time," he said.
"The vast majority of people within our business have helped us to maximise the capabilities of these aircraft in terms of fuel-efficient flying techniques and new product and service offerings," he said.
"But our maintenance and repair costs are among the least efficient and most expensive in the world.
"So it's time to catch up. We don't repair our cars the same we did 40 years ago. We can't repair our planes the same way either." my bold
"We can't repair our planes the same way either"
you can say that again AJ
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 03:37
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Interesting to note to where Steve Creedy put the story in the Australian.
In the second half of a story hidden behind the Headline about Qantas closing its Travel Agent shop fronts.
Advertising dollar wins every time.
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 03:46
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I think it is obvious. AJ and co DO NOT want to solve/compromise with the pilots or engineers. This is "break them time" for them. I feel very sorry for the qantas team. He is just hellbent on breaking it.
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 06:09
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That's right. Basically QF can allow the ban to go ahead, or espond by lockout - would seem OTT; or not accept the ban - ala the left-hand LAMEs - and not pay pilots that choose to make the union PA announcements.
Crusader,

The FWA legislation (as I understand it) ensures that action taken by the employer is proportional to the action taken by the employees. If QF were to respond to the making of PAs by pilots with lockouts and docking of pay, I imagine it would find itself in FWA in about a nanosecond. So while these actions would be consistent with QF's bullying style, the FWA should ensure that it does not happen.
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 06:32
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I don't disagree shark patrol.

The PA announcement is a ban. The FWA allows an employer to reduce pay because of bans, regardless of what the ban might be, but it also means a worker can complete other work and still get paid for it.

If part of your job as a pilot is to say "this is your captain speaking etc etc", and you chose to not say it for the purposes of PIA then it leaves it open for QF to deduct pay proportional to the ban taking place.

It is open for QF to not accept the ban altogether though. Again the reasons behind that could be disputed in FWA
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 07:20
  #166 (permalink)  
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FWA allows the company to reduce pay on the basis of how much the respective PIA 'costs' the company. The response by the company needs to be in proportion. They'd be hard pressed to argue that the PIA costs the company a single red cent.

The case law given to QF drivers was that of a group of bus drivers in Canberra who refused to take cash for travel. Their union argued that they spent only 1% of the day doing this part of the job so that is what they should be docked. The company argued that they lost 50% of their income so that is what should be docked of the pay. I don't remember the specifics but FWA ruled on a combination of factors and it cost the drivers about 20%.

This one is not going to register a blip to QF unless they decide to be even more antagonistic than they already have.
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 08:10
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Originally Posted by ACT Crusader
The PA announcement is a ban. The FWA allows an employer to reduce pay because of bans, regardless of what the ban might be, but it also means a worker can complete other work and still get paid for it.
Well, the employer has to be a little careful there. Fair Work Australia can knock that on the head, and by law must take into account the "nature and extent" of the partial work ban (which, yes, as bizarre as it sounds, the extra PAs full under the definition of).

The employer would look pretty silly docking you a week's (or even a day's) pay for making an extra PA when there is no company prescribed limit on how many PAs you can make in the first place, nor when exactly you are allowed to make them, for obvious reasons. As pointed out, it's very difficult to imagine how Qantas could possibly argue (and quantify) that the PA costs them anything at all.

The company may well try to be a***holes, but there are limits as to how far they can take that in practice.
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 08:23
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QANTAS Pilots Strike

Folks,

I have no connection at all with either QANTAS or Australian Aviation either.

On the current plan for a strike by QANTAS Pilots, I would however make the following comments.

- Remember 1989/90, did this really result in better pay & conditions for those Aussie Pilots involved at the time.

- Many workers in many industries throughout the world would, be only to happy to receive the present pay & conditions that QANTAS Pilots receive.

- Such actions this can & will, all end in tears & I am confident I know for which party in the current dispute.


Safe flying
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 08:26
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Keg - that was the Action Buses case. The TWU claimed in some cases two thirds of the pay was deducted. But as you say, FWA ordered that 20.1% of pay be deducted. FWA said:

the payments to drivers implementing the partial work ban should be decreased by an amount which reasonably approximates to the percentage that fare collection revenue represents of ACTION’s total expenses. According to the submissions of ACTION this formula would result in the total payment made to each driver for each shift in which the ban is imposed being reduced by 20.1%.
Dutchroll - Agree. I guess that is why bans can be so effective....
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 09:22
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thanks again for the other response carbonneutral

*Lancer*

The job security clauses do not provide job security, because the document (LHCA) is only valid for an Australian based company. QantasAsia - or whatever it may be called - if wholly incorporated overseas, may be completely independent from Australian industrial law in the same way that Jetstar Asia, and Jetstar NZ is...
interesting point you make... so what does that mean for the job security clause? what will be the end result if all goes to plan?
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 09:26
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The end result of the job security clause will be a new CEO at Qantas. His security relies on destroying the existing brand by replacing all staff with low cost models.
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 10:33
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Perhaps that's the strategy.

I am unaware of how paying Australian-based Qantas subsidiary jet pilots the same LHCA rates (the current 'job security' claim), delivers any direct benefit to existing Qantas pilots. It assumes that all future mainline aircraft will be operated by an Australian-based company, and will probably expedite an offshoring strategy in the absence of AIPA consultation or inclusion.

The Jetconnect case result may alter things, but I doubt public perception will. Who knows!?
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 11:58
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Such actions this can & will, all end in tears & I am confident I know for which party in the current dispute.
Given the alternative being living as an expat in a foreign country working for an Australian airline what do the pilots have to lose?
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Old 20th Jul 2011, 20:26
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someone with qantas, preferably one of you pilots, please tell your main spokesman about southwest airlines' pilots in the united states. they are pretty much hands down the highest paid jet pilots on that continent. that qantas pilot salaries are too high, need lowering and are uncompetitive is just tripe. get onto your boy. tell him to counter the campaign with info such as that of a swa pilot's salary. the end game is that the profitability of an airline is all about how management do their thing. qantas' management are atrocious. swa management are the opposite, and they pay their pilots accordingly. undermine the qantas campaign to undermine you. get onto it fellas. and good luck. (ps smarmy replies accepted. no problem. just get the job done right. this is the only chance you'll ever have. fun example of a possible reply: "yeah well thanks for the assistance, bruce mate, but we're just fine 'cause we here at qantas pilots dot com already know this...and we're onto it? you know? so piss off bruce.") lol.
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Old 21st Jul 2011, 01:05
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Big White Bird,

Things can get pretty messy when you start trying to play the comparison game in the public arena. It can backfire fairly easy if you don't know all the facts/details. Or you can get stuck trying to explain details and your main message(s) get lost.

Southwest's profit margins are currently really low right now and have taken a big dive even in the last 6-9 months. Paying 10year+ pilots $200+/hour won't mean much to the "hearts and minds" here...
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Old 21st Jul 2011, 01:07
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Joyce says QF unions are out of touch

Qantas looks to China for future, cautions 'out of touch' unions | ATWOnline

Qantas looks to China for future, cautions 'out of touch' unions

Qantas declared that its future is in China, the world’s second biggest and fastest growing aviation market, but the airline needs its staff to embrace the radical change to succeed.

Speaking Wednesday at the Australia Pacific Aviation Outlook Summit in Sydney, QF CEO Alan Joyce warned that “out of touch union leaders” who are resisting change don't understand that the carrier's costs are 25% above its competitors such as Singapore Airlines (ATW Daily News, July 14). “Globalization continues to change our world in profound ways and it is still changing the way we work, consume and engage—and it is still driving relentless competition,” said Joyce. “Globalization is not optional and it is not over.”

According to Joyce, China is already home to seven of the world’s top 20 airports by capacity. “By 2020, China will have 15 cities with bigger populations than Sydney and the region will be home to 2.6 billion people. And by 2030 the country expects to have at least three globally recognized international airline hubs, 10 national and regional hubs and at least 244 airports,” he said.

But to capitalize on the booming China and Asia market, QF needs significant change, cautioned Joyce. “Change is always tough. But the competitive challenges we face make major change essential, and our commitment to the change process is absolute,” he said. The CEO noted a significant upside: “I believe we have a major opportunity to go beyond the natural limitations of our market size and geography, to become a champion Australian company in a globalized region and world.”

Joyce noted that QF subsidiary Jetstar operates Asia’s largest and fastest-growing low-fares network. “That is an amazing achievement for an Australian airline,” he said.

On Aug. 24, QF is expected to announce a major restructure of its international operations and a new joint venture to establish an airline in Asia, which will be based in either Malaysia, China or Singapore. Joyce said that the future is “wrapped up in even deeper alliance partnerships and further joint ventures,” but such sentiments do not sit well with unions that fear outsourcing.

According to Joyce, some of the airline’s union leaders are “simply out of touch and trying to block our use of new business models” and that could scuttle expansion plans. Joyce also claimed that some unions are blocking efficiencies that can be delivered by new maintenance technologies.

“Less than a month ago, Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority issued new aviation maintenance regulations that bring Australia into line with European standards and global best practice,” said Joyce.

The new regulations finally recognize the quantum leap in aviation technology, particularly in the sophisticated information, material and design technologies that underpin new aircraft. However, Joyce said the QF engineers’ union is resisting the change. “Our maintenance and repair costs are among the least efficient and most expensive in the world,” he stated. “It’s time to catch up. We don’t repair our cars the same way we did 40 years ago. We can’t repair our planes the same way either. We can—and we will—be safer, smarter and more efficient.”

QF is in a bitter dispute with both its engineers and long-haul pilots, who have voted for industrial action expected to take place in early August (ATW Daily News, July 12).
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Old 21st Jul 2011, 01:44
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...the carrier's costs are 25% above its competitors such as Singapore Airlines (ATW Daily News, July 14). “Globalization continues to change our world in profound ways and it is still changing the way we work, consume and engage—and it is still driving relentless competition,” said Joyce. “Globalization is not optional and it is not over.”
It follows from Mr Joyce's comments that he believes that ... Australians should be accepting the same wages as is paid in similar Industries overseas

Is that a realistic expectation?

Should Australian textile workers ( if there are any) receive the same wages as those in the back alleys of Mumbai?

Should Australian hospitality workers get paid identically to their Asian counterparts ... around $4 - $5 an hour?

Consider the situation if Australia followed through with this idea ...
  • Income .... reduced significantly
  • Cost of living ... can't see that reducing significantly
  • Housing costs ... also can't see that reducing significantly
  • Surplus income .... non existent
  • Punters rushing to buy Qantas tickets .... non existent

It's a vicious circle that doesn't make sense ....
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Old 21st Jul 2011, 01:52
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Alan also forgets that Singapore's training budget would have to be at least double that of QF's. They pay pilots to learn to fly put them through PPL/CPL/IR then put them in a Learjet at $5000 an hour, then they start endorsement training in the full motion simulator......meanwhile Jetstar and QF get FREE pilots!!
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Old 21st Jul 2011, 02:00
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Should Australian textile workers ( if there are any) receive the same wages as those in the back alleys of Mumbai?
I think the words in brackets above are quite telling. The market for textile workers became a global one, Australia can't compete against Mumbai in that area, therefore they don't.(small specialist operations aside).The market for aviation workers has become, or is becoming, global so the question becomes.....can we compete? I'm not passing judgement as to whether it's a good thing or not, but that seems to be the case to me. Aviation workers in poor countries will be paid a bit more than they're used to, workers in rich countries like Australia will be paid a bit less, a middle ground will be found on an international level instead of a local one. The supply and demand law will apply globally instead of locally. Like it or not I think thats the reality.
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Old 21st Jul 2011, 02:22
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Guys the likes of AJ I don't think have any idea what they are doing. Don't forget these CEO's aren't in the same 'boat' as us worker drones they have money enuf to ride out any change in the global way of thinking & as such are just feathering their own nest to survive in the mess they leave behind in that nest.
Our biggest trouble is we have a weak Govt. who are slowing destroying what was once a great country. Now there in lies the real problem, aviation is just a small part of it.


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