MERGED: Qantas grounded effective immediately.
RSSLatest News
Qantas responds to industrial action
Sydney, 29 October 2011
Qantas today announced that, from 8pm AEDT on Monday 31 October 2011, it will lock out all employees who will be covered by the industrial agreements currently being negotiated with the Australian Licenced Engineers Union (ALAEA), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Australian and International Pilots Union (AIPA).
This step is being taken under the provisions of the Fair Work Act in response to industrial action taken by these unions. The financial impact of action taken to date has reached $68 million and the action is costing Qantas approximately $15 million per week in lost revenue. Approximately 70,000 passengers have been affected and more than 600 flights cancelled.
Pilots, licenced engineers and baggage, ground and catering staff are essential to Qantas operations and the lock-out will therefore make it necessary for all Qantas aircraft to be grounded. For precautionary reasons, this will take place immediately (as at 5pm AEDT, Saturday 29 October 2011).
Aircraft currently in the air will complete the sectors they are operating. However, there will be no further Qantas domestic departures or international departures anywhere in the world. This will have an estimated financial impact on Qantas of $20 million per day.
The lock-out will continue until the ALAEA, the TWU and AIPA drop the extreme demands that have made it impossible for agreements to be reached.
Jetstar flights, QantasLink flights and Qantas flights across the Tasman operated by Jetconnect will continue. Express Freighters Australia and Atlas Freighters will also continue to operate.
Requirements for employees are as follows:
- Until the lock-out commences, all employees are required at work as normal and will be paid.
- Once the lock-out commences:
- employees who are locked out will not be required at work and will not be paid.
- employees working overseas will not be locked out and will continue to be paid.
- all other employees are required at work and will be paid as normal.
Customers booked on Qantas flights should not go to the airport until further notice. A full refund will be available to any customer who chooses to cancel their flight because it has been directly affected by the grounding of the fleet. Full rebooking flexibility will be available to customers who wish to defer their travel.
Assistance with accommodation and alternative flights, as well as other support, will be offered to customers who are mid-journey.
Customers should monitor qantas.com for the latest updates. The latest information will also be posted on Qantas’ Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Only customers travelling within the next 24 hours should call Qantas contact centres (on 13 13 13).
Qantas regrets that this action has become necessary and apologises sincerely to all affected passengers.
Issued by Qantas Corporate Communication (5218)
Email: [email protected]
Qantas responds to industrial action
Sydney, 29 October 2011
Qantas today announced that, from 8pm AEDT on Monday 31 October 2011, it will lock out all employees who will be covered by the industrial agreements currently being negotiated with the Australian Licenced Engineers Union (ALAEA), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Australian and International Pilots Union (AIPA).
This step is being taken under the provisions of the Fair Work Act in response to industrial action taken by these unions. The financial impact of action taken to date has reached $68 million and the action is costing Qantas approximately $15 million per week in lost revenue. Approximately 70,000 passengers have been affected and more than 600 flights cancelled.
Pilots, licenced engineers and baggage, ground and catering staff are essential to Qantas operations and the lock-out will therefore make it necessary for all Qantas aircraft to be grounded. For precautionary reasons, this will take place immediately (as at 5pm AEDT, Saturday 29 October 2011).
Aircraft currently in the air will complete the sectors they are operating. However, there will be no further Qantas domestic departures or international departures anywhere in the world. This will have an estimated financial impact on Qantas of $20 million per day.
The lock-out will continue until the ALAEA, the TWU and AIPA drop the extreme demands that have made it impossible for agreements to be reached.
Jetstar flights, QantasLink flights and Qantas flights across the Tasman operated by Jetconnect will continue. Express Freighters Australia and Atlas Freighters will also continue to operate.
Requirements for employees are as follows:
- Until the lock-out commences, all employees are required at work as normal and will be paid.
- Once the lock-out commences:
- employees who are locked out will not be required at work and will not be paid.
- employees working overseas will not be locked out and will continue to be paid.
- all other employees are required at work and will be paid as normal.
Customers booked on Qantas flights should not go to the airport until further notice. A full refund will be available to any customer who chooses to cancel their flight because it has been directly affected by the grounding of the fleet. Full rebooking flexibility will be available to customers who wish to defer their travel.
Assistance with accommodation and alternative flights, as well as other support, will be offered to customers who are mid-journey.
Customers should monitor qantas.com for the latest updates. The latest information will also be posted on Qantas’ Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Only customers travelling within the next 24 hours should call Qantas contact centres (on 13 13 13).
Qantas regrets that this action has become necessary and apologises sincerely to all affected passengers.
Issued by Qantas Corporate Communication (5218)
Email: [email protected]
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Sydney, Australia
Age: 35
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The minister will apply for a cessation under Fair Work Australia. He will most likely get it, but the problem is it will make action by the Unions illegal as well. Essentially Joyce holds the company, the staff, the government and th travelling public to ransom and profits from it.
Joyce must go, there is no other option. He has taken a once trusted, respected and iconic brand and driven it into the ground. His actions have now disenfranchised the workers and he is now reaping what he sows.
Joyce must go, there is no other option. He has taken a once trusted, respected and iconic brand and driven it into the ground. His actions have now disenfranchised the workers and he is now reaping what he sows.
As all this has obviously been arranged prior to the AGM then I would hope the ASX would take an interest in events. Shareholders must have listened to statements about the future of the company that are now incorrect. AN EGM needs to be called to challenge management firstly over their behavior at the AGM then about the grounding.
Prof. Airport Engineer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Australia (mostly)
Posts: 726
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FWA needs someone with balls. With regrets I must advise that Julia has no balls (it's a medical thing) and the first bloke doesn't either (lifestyle choice)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Govt Intervention
Joyce just wants the Govt to do his dirty work for him. He has such poor form when you look at his resume - nothing to be proud of. Govt should simply support VB and also allow SQ to fly domestic - counter strategy...
The issue of having an AGM and misleading shareholders (of which I am one) must be investigated by ASIC - this grounding was not planned in the last 24hrs!!!!
Have to fly next week - just changed to VB - time to sell my worthless shares and buy some in VB.
The start of the end for QF!
The issue of having an AGM and misleading shareholders (of which I am one) must be investigated by ASIC - this grounding was not planned in the last 24hrs!!!!
Have to fly next week - just changed to VB - time to sell my worthless shares and buy some in VB.
The start of the end for QF!
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Behind a CB near you
Age: 44
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why announce this Saturday and not Friday,
bypass the ASX Announcement needed till Monday and have Julia run to his side Sunday.
bypass the ASX Announcement needed till Monday and have Julia run to his side Sunday.
Wouldn't surprise me if AJ and Juliar had already had words and come up with a plan of action.
What about AFAP unionised pilots? What about other workers in non-affected unions? Or indeed non-unionised staff?
For QF to pull out the endgame this early on in the peace reaks of complete and utter desperation!
To all my friends in QF.... make that EVERYONE in QF... except AJ and co... take care and hang in there. We're right behind you... All the way!
Depending on the outcome of this ugly situation, will a fighting fund somehow be made available to staff with mortgages etc?
Just astounding.
Personally I think it's the only way he could guarantee gov. intervention. They will do their best, under the guise of protecting national infrastructure, of overturning the FWA framework as is applicable to this case, and to overnight render the PIA no longer protected.
It's a union busting move, plain and simple. Despite the fact I wont be paid from Monday, I hope AIPA and others concerned call the bluff.
We just got notified the lock out is in response to the P.A's we have been making and the red ties we have been wearing.
Don't worry about DAMP training for pilots, somebody should send a car to the Irishman's house for an immediate drug test - has he lost the plot!!
Hold firm guys and girls
Personally I think it's the only way he could guarantee gov. intervention. They will do their best, under the guise of protecting national infrastructure, of overturning the FWA framework as is applicable to this case, and to overnight render the PIA no longer protected.
It's a union busting move, plain and simple. Despite the fact I wont be paid from Monday, I hope AIPA and others concerned call the bluff.
We just got notified the lock out is in response to the P.A's we have been making and the red ties we have been wearing.
Don't worry about DAMP training for pilots, somebody should send a car to the Irishman's house for an immediate drug test - has he lost the plot!!
Hold firm guys and girls
I agree 'QF94' the little man had something up his sleeve all along. He's got another 'tool' in his bag of tricks called the Govt. 'Julia' is Bob Hawke reincarnated!!! Watch it guys the goose didn't get to where he is 2day by being clever, he's just cunning & has no pulse.
A new day in Australian Aviation has dawned sadly there's no sunshine in it!
.
My heart goes out to all those who love working for Qantas & are proud, for the name that is, not the fool at the top!
Wmk2
A new day in Australian Aviation has dawned sadly there's no sunshine in it!
.My heart goes out to all those who love working for Qantas & are proud, for the name that is, not the fool at the top!
Wmk2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: In A Hangar Near You
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Everybody Loses
If these circumstances are protracted the suffering to employees and travellers will be enormous.This has to be be one of the saddest days in Australian aviation history.The ramifications of this decision will be felt for decades
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Really sorry to see this development guys, corporate greed gone mad. Unfortunately this sickness is not unique to Qantas, we have plenty up here at Cathay as well!
You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Derbyshire, England.
Posts: 4,095
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Damage to the Melbourne Cup is unlikely as there is a lot of capacity out there.
Sad that out of the total number of responses in this thread so many are just pure, vitriolic invective and nothing more, QF employees?
Gillard is in a tight spot, she may be obliged to go against all her deeply inbred union pinciples. Great opportunity for her to redeem some of her lost reputation, she was asked to intervene and didn't, now she may have to.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh God, preserve us from the deaf and blind!
Sad that out of the total number of responses in this thread so many are just pure, vitriolic invective and nothing more, QF employees?
Gillard is in a tight spot, she may be obliged to go against all her deeply inbred union pinciples. Great opportunity for her to redeem some of her lost reputation, she was asked to intervene and didn't, now she may have to.
lly sorry to see this development guys, corporate greed gone mad. Unfortunately this sickness is not unique to Qantas, we have plenty up here at Cathay as well!
Oh God, preserve us from the deaf and blind!
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Minto
Age: 44
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Next engagement survey will be a beauty.
20 million dollar loss a day due to fleet grounded compared to 14 million a week. And who is killing Qantas ?
The fuse is lit.
20 million dollar loss a day due to fleet grounded compared to 14 million a week. And who is killing Qantas ?
The fuse is lit.