Dixon crosses the line in the sand...
 

Based on AIPA's response to the announcement today regarding Jetstar Asia operating a QANTAS mainline route into Australia, it appears that AIPA has reached a point where it is going to act.

Thats what the boss said this arvo via email.

Whats the next move?......

Well, I have to hand it to Geoff Dixon. He certainly is getting stuck into his plans to trash the Qantas brand with gusto. Never mind. I guess Emirates, Cathay & so on will pick up all our business and other premium customers.

hope they will be carefull..very ver y carefull!

A not so veiled threat that if QF proceed with this operation AIPA will react with action (with in its legal rights).

What that'll be is the big mystery. Dixon must've had a restless night last night...not.

I personally hope they come up with something that hits the hip pocket of QF, cause I am over all this and ready for some form of resolution.

Remember there is still 2400 mainline pilots, the company still need us despite their portrayal that Jetstar can manage the lot.....

I believe that's what the AFAP more or less said back in "that" year. Be very careful lads, the 2400 can be very quickly reduced to a very efficient and lean 1400. :p

Only if they intend to fly 2/3 of the aeroplanes. Unlike the domestic award back in the 80's and unlike the spin some would like to put on it, QF pilots are efficient... they are just paid more than others in this country and that is where the pressure comes from, not efficiency.

Lets get the numbers correct
 

Just to be sure about the numbers:
Mainline Longhaul (B744, B747, A330, B767 without FEO's) approx 1630 Pilots
Mainline Shorthaul B737 approx 640 Pilots

The B737 is are already there with 'lean and mean' contract, no savings here.

BTW has anyone actually seen an AOC that lists the mainline B737's. The current QF AOC does not list any B737's?

Whilst considerng what 'legal' action they can take, I wonder how many now, and in late 2007 / early 2008, will be reflecting on "Who they trusted" in 2004.

I say again...be very very careful..and I hope AIPA remembers, that even before they start they have "an enemy from within". As I have said before..if and when anything happens..it will be interesting to see who jumps where.

He hasn't really done anything yet, per se. The AIPA leadership will not go down the rocky industrial roads previously trodden, and they are acutely aware of the limitations the new IR laws place on dispute resolution etc. They're also aware of public perception and the fact that shoe salesmen don't see why we should earn so much, and believe that flying a 747 is only marginally more demanding than driving a Mazda 323. For those who know the Pres, his statement suggested that we're pretty much over stomping our feet on the floor & banging fists on the table.

Kinda weird. AIPA has been seen as the quintessential representative body by some sections of management for years - compliant, hasn't taken industrial action since, what, the 60s or something, very company-friendly overall. If Qantas says 'bend over', AIPA in the past has generally said 'how far?' and 'please allow us the honour of providing the KY'. It'll be fascinating to see what happens in the next few months.

the first thing the employees will do when threatened, is reduce efficiency, which of course will be used as ammunition against said employees.

the company is well and truly divided, and numerous large departments have been eliminated, i feel that whatever the AIPA will do, its already way to late.

Do not forget that under the current industrial rules, "work to rule" will expose the union and the induvidual to potential legal action.

Wonderful, isn't it, that obeying all the rules can get us in the sh1t. OTOH if CASA were to think that we did not obey all the rules we are in the sh1t again. Please nurse, may I have the red ones a bit early tonight!! :}

That "very efficient and lean 1400" number lasted less than 12 months, until the airlines couldn't fly them anymore.
The final numbers, afetr 2 1/2 years, ended up very close ot the original, but at a MUCH higher wages bill, due to the greatly increased salaries needed to lure pilots.
As a result, NOT ONE OF THE ORIGINAL AIRLINES IN THAT DISPUTE SURVIVED.
Don't believe the propaganda machines that try to make out the airlines had a win back then.
You should note that airlines have actually AVOIDED head-on confrontations since then, knowing that it would result in their demise.
Today's attacks are more the stealth type tactics that Mr Dixon employs - say one thing, do another with his "long-term, I have a plan" spiel)!

Isn't the issue really that the AIPA membership should have acted about three years ago when the thin end of the wedge got it's foot in the door. Now it is way too big, and far too entrenched.

As I recall there seemed to be a "it won't happen to us" approach.

Can AIPA find a legal/logical justification for taking action that attempts to stop QF feeding some work to a financially sick part of 'the Qantas group'...Jetstar Asia?

You know...the kind of justification that won't make them look like silly spoilt brats to the public when the media starts reporting their actions.

Just a thought.:hmm:

Yeh..and just wait for the media story "Granny Smith only wanted to visit dying grandson"

"Granny Smith lived on cat food for 3 months to save enough money to travel on Jetstar from Darwin to Singapore to see her grandson Willy Wonker. Willy is in hospital in Singapore after contracting the possibly fatal disease "Golden Moth Syndrome." It is possible that Golden Moth syndrome was introduced into Singapore on the wet suits of Qantas pilots who do luxury diving tours on their regular 6 day stop overs in Singapore.

"I just wanted to see Willy"| said Granny Smith. "I know that 285 dollars is not a lot to a Qantas pilot, but for me its a years savings"

A spokesmen for Qantas confirmed last night that the average Qantas pilot earns $392,000 a year and flies on average 36 hours a month. He also stated that the average layover time in Singapore is 7 days..and many of the pilots undertake luxury diving tours...............blah blah blah

Like I said..be careful...very very careful.:confused:

That "very efficient and lean 1400" number lasted less than 12 months, until the airlines couldn't fly them anymore.
My understandind was that as of 11/9/2001 there was around 800 pilots in AN and in QN shorthaul around 600. That makes up the 1400 How many were there prior to the great event and what hours were they flying? Sounds like a crock to me:ugh: Once again 89 crashes through................ AN died from events that were greater than 89

When considering work to rule...

http://www.actu.asn.au/work_rights/n...976_17416.html

These folk lost a weeks pay because they refused to work OT, during a "protected period" of industrial action... The ETU is taking it to the federal court, the outcome has far reaching consequences for all of us.

Once again there's a major problem. Media reporters aren't rocket scientists and journalistic ethics (if there ever was such a thing) in Australia has pretty much followed a graceful nose-dive into a bottomless peat bog like journalism in the UK. Any story will do, as long as it sounds good to the masses. Cross checking facts is an unnecessary encumberance for most journos. Tall-poppy syndrome is alive and well, and they love nothing more than slagging off at doctors who've done more study and training than most people would even dream about, or pilots who've taken 15 years of slogging away to get where they are - both of whom can end a life/many lives within a few seconds of making a wrong decision.

However talk of work-to-rule is rather premature, and it'd be illegal now anyway (in fact, I'm surprised even disliking the Government's IR policies hasn't been made illegal yet). What you'll find initially is that cooperation and goodwill towards the company, ie, bending over backwards to make things work, extending duty-periods, accepting voluntary scheduling requests, being frugal with additional fuel, and so on, will virtually cease. There is evidence that this is already happening.

Edit: Que? Speedy hasn't even made a post on this thread!

Speedy
 

Whilst i wouldn't expect you to understand, you and your like are exactly the reason why Dixon is going to win this battle, and win it easily.