Qantas terminates long haul cabin crew agreement, demands more flexibility
This is precisely what has happened on the Sydney rail network over the last few years.
Sydney Trains is one of the lowest-paying rail operators in the country, whose employees live in one of the most expensive cities in the country so a great many of them get a start there, get their qualifications and then move on, either to regional freight, or to the Pilbara operators doing a 2/2 roster on nearly double the salary. ST don't like recruiting for new Driver's as it leaves them exposed to the question "Why are you always recruiting? Why can't you retain staff?" In turn, ST becomes reliant on the remaining crew doing OT to cover the roster, and when those crew decide they don't want to do that OT anymore, the network collapses. .
Sydney Trains is one of the lowest-paying rail operators in the country, whose employees live in one of the most expensive cities in the country so a great many of them get a start there, get their qualifications and then move on, either to regional freight, or to the Pilbara operators doing a 2/2 roster on nearly double the salary. ST don't like recruiting for new Driver's as it leaves them exposed to the question "Why are you always recruiting? Why can't you retain staff?" In turn, ST becomes reliant on the remaining crew doing OT to cover the roster, and when those crew decide they don't want to do that OT anymore, the network collapses. .
This is precisely what has happened on the Sydney rail network over the last few years.
Sydney Trains is one of the lowest-paying rail operators in the country, whose employees live in one of the most expensive cities in the country so a great many of them get a start there, get their qualifications and then move on, either to regional freight, or to the Pilbara operators doing a 2/2 roster on nearly double the salary. ST don't like recruiting for new Driver's as it leaves them exposed to the question "Why are you always recruiting? Why can't you retain staff?" In turn, ST becomes reliant on the remaining crew doing OT to cover the roster, and when those crew decide they don't want to do that OT anymore, the network collapses. The same thing happened in 2004, it just goes to show management never learn from their mistakes.
QF would do well to learn from the mistakes of others and offer a carrot to entice crew to become cross-qualified rather than taking a massive stick to their workforce.
Sydney Trains is one of the lowest-paying rail operators in the country, whose employees live in one of the most expensive cities in the country so a great many of them get a start there, get their qualifications and then move on, either to regional freight, or to the Pilbara operators doing a 2/2 roster on nearly double the salary. ST don't like recruiting for new Driver's as it leaves them exposed to the question "Why are you always recruiting? Why can't you retain staff?" In turn, ST becomes reliant on the remaining crew doing OT to cover the roster, and when those crew decide they don't want to do that OT anymore, the network collapses. The same thing happened in 2004, it just goes to show management never learn from their mistakes.
QF would do well to learn from the mistakes of others and offer a carrot to entice crew to become cross-qualified rather than taking a massive stick to their workforce.
I'm guessing they would like 56 day trips like NZ crew can do, or the fact that they can call crew on last day of standby and go right through their designated days off without mutual agreement........ What kind of life could anyone possibly plan with such 'rules'. So much for "Fairwork". Without any resemblance of 'fair', this will only go one way and she ain't pretty. Time the journalists starting exposing the 'Spirit of Australia' that Joyce really exhibits
Was it the agreement that stopped the sector or was it the WA border rules?
This new deal is for Australian based crew, and the Perth-London flights are crewed exclusively by London based crew on a separate contract.
The recent removal of the WA hard border is the reason flights are returning to Perth.
And so the precedent is set for the rest of the group. Who’s next in the firing line then?
NJS Pilots have been told ‘we are retiring your aircraft soon. We will be ordering a replacement however we are yet to decide who will operate it. Oh btw we have started your EA negotiations, if you don’t agree/we don’t meet our ‘INSERT BS ‘MBA Graduate name’ for company goals’, these negotiations will only cover the soon to be gone B717 and you will all be redundant”
And Gordon has a point as well - if QF did do that, there would certainly be a case for the unions to argue that this would not be a genuine redundancy.
At some point, the workers are going to have to stand up to the garbage that is continually put out by QF IR. A realignment of the Fair Work Act by a Labor government would certainly assist that!
I am not sure how these negotiations have been going, but I would be hopeful the pilot group wouldn’t fall for such BS. QF are not going to buy NJS from Cobham, to then 3 years later shut down the entire operation only then to have to recruit 150 odd pilots to cover the A220.
And Gordon has a point as well - if QF did do that, there would certainly be a case for the unions to argue that this would not be a genuine redundancy.
And Gordon has a point as well - if QF did do that, there would certainly be a case for the unions to argue that this would not be a genuine redundancy.
Given the amount of duplication that goes on in QF in management roles just by the sheer number of AOCs they hold I would imagine they would do exactly that just to simply send a message. It’s not about actually running an efficient cost effective airline it’s about keeping the pilots all in ‘check’ and making sure there is downward pressure on wages, regardless of how expensive that saving turns out to be.
I am not sure how these negotiations have been going, but I would be hopeful the pilot group wouldn’t fall for such BS. QF are not going to buy NJS from Cobham, to then 3 years later shut down the entire operation only then to have to recruit 150 odd pilots to cover the A220.
I have been informed that the aircraft has not been ordered and that the order will only be made following the expected, possibly coerced capitulation of the pilots.
The Cabin Crew EBA was just the beginning of the new Qantas tactic to destroy all the terms and conditions for the remaining workgroups post Covid. The corporate bullies at Coward St have their sights set on the NJS EBA that is currently being “negotiated” in a take all, give nothing swift movement which “‘must be finalised quickly”. The staff have seen it all before and aren’t worried however there isn’t a drop of morale left and the sick calls are snowballing to the point of numerous cancelled flights.
I have been informed that the aircraft has not been ordered and that…
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The Cabin crew agreement started to be negotiated just as COVID hit. It also came to loggerheads during COVID and border closures. Terrible timing for the cabin crew.
Qantas had a time limited advantage and exploited it. As COVID becomes less of an issue, borders opened etc then I doubt this will work as COVID was cited as the reason Qantas needed the relief about 1000 times. That’s not going to last forever. With regards to A220 etc then Qantas just try and see if pilots will take the lowest offer and fall for the scare.
Qantas had a time limited advantage and exploited it. As COVID becomes less of an issue, borders opened etc then I doubt this will work as COVID was cited as the reason Qantas needed the relief about 1000 times. That’s not going to last forever. With regards to A220 etc then Qantas just try and see if pilots will take the lowest offer and fall for the scare.
