PPRuNe Forums

PPRuNe Forums (https://www.pprune.org/)
-   Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific (https://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zealand-pacific-90/)
-   -   "30 more pilots underpaid" (https://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zealand-pacific/280671-30-more-pilots-underpaid.html)

Charlie Foxtrot India 19th Jun 2007 12:32

"30 more pilots underpaid"
 
Found this in The West online...

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ontentID=31877

The shape of things to come?

Jenna Talia 19th Jun 2007 13:10

Bring it on :D

Erin Brockovich 19th Jun 2007 14:00

I foresee the guys and gals at Skippers and the like calling on the services of the OWS in the future. Maybe through future association with the TWU (85,000 members)?

From the OWS website…

The Office of Workplace Services can help you find out if you have been underpaid and could help you if you have been sacked.
We can take legal action against anyone suspected of breaching the Workplace Relations Act 1996, awards or agreements.
Contact us on 1300 724 200 or use the Live Help function to speak to an advisor now.
It’s about time these companies were forced to share the wealth with their employees. The mining boom has been great for everyone except the pilots.

I wouldn’t think it a stretch that other FIFO operators are breaching workplace relations laws. It only takes a phone call and you might be legally entitled to a nice bonus (your money illegally withheld but nice nonetheless).

Well done to the NJS boys for sticking together and helping the new hires.

Captahab 19th Jun 2007 14:46

Any EBA or AWA that is not keeping pace with the CPI is unfair and is effectively a constant decrease in pay.
Most AWA's/EBA's seem to be a going backwards on an annual calculation, the regionals have been falling behind for years.

TWU may be the way to go, AFAP have dropped the ball.


Current figures
http://www.natrem.com.au/inflation/index.html

Ahab

Australia2 19th Jun 2007 17:57

Great news,

Not to rant and rave but great news !

Fair days work for a fair days pay - individual occurances like this will EVENTUALLY improve things for everyone.

Well done to all those involved.

Oz2:ok:

ITCZ 19th Jun 2007 22:40


Originally Posted by "Captahab'
TWU may be the way to go, AFAP have dropped the ball.

Unbelievable. That is complete bulldust. How the hell did you get to that conclusion?

The present action at the OWS started a year ago when NJS refused to pay an annual CPI increment to a large number of its pilots. The AFAP was fully supportive and offered a great deal of useful advice.

However the decision was taken by the NJS Pilot Group and the individuals concerned to run it themselves through the OWS. The AFAP was asked to keep a low profile by the NJS Pilot Group and the pilots. The AFAP did as requested and continued to offer assistance.

The TWU has been representing NJS pilots for maybe one month now. we expect that they will do good things, but it cannot claim this action as any 'success' of its own.

The real recognition, if it is truly due at this early stage, should go to the 30+ NJS pilots that made formal complaints to the OWS. They persisted in being heard in the new "WorkChoices" environment that is heavily biased towards employers, difficult for individual employees, and obstructive to unions.

The real show will be on in July in the Federal Magistrates Court in Perth.

Unions are a great source of support, advice and tactics. But the thing all of you have to get your head around, if you want to improve your conditions, or fight to be paid what is due to you, is this -- You can't just pick a union to run a fight for you.

It is not like picking a football team to follow. If you have a problem that needs solving, you have to pull on a pair of boots and run into the arena alongside your union rep, the government agencies, and be prepared to expend some effort, and cop some of the biffo in the process.

spider331 19th Jun 2007 22:57

Pressure to sign AWAs
 
So let me get this straight since I have little knowledge of the exact regulations.

I am understanding that the AWA was about to expire (and the CPI increase also had a date of expiry). CPI was offered with the new one along with some significant losses in conditions, hence the duress to sign a new one?

Can someone set me straight please?

Di_Vosh 19th Jun 2007 23:16

ITCZ
 

Unions are a great source of support, advice and tactics. But the thing all of you have to get your head around, if you want to improve your conditions, or fight to be paid what is due to you, is this -- You can't just pick a union to run a fight for you.

It is not like picking a football team to follow. If you have a problem that needs solving, you have to pull on a pair of boots and run into the arena alongside your union rep, the government agencies, and be prepared to expend some effort, and cop some of the biffo in the process.

Well said :ok:

DIVOSH!

Capt Claret 19th Jun 2007 23:19

G'day Spider from Uzbekistan,

Your understanding is incorrect.

What happened a couple of years ago is that pilots on a valid and current AWA were denied their CPI rise because the company wanted to pressure them into signing a replacement AWA.

What is happening now, is that the company is offering a flat 2% p.a. pay increase, which can be topped up by cashing in other employment conditions, such as life insurance, loss of licence insurance, etc. to bolster the meagre 2%.

What this means is, that in a time of economic prosperity pilots employed by NJS are being pressured to give up the only mechanism that they have to maintain their spending power. The CPI has historically run at an average of 2.7% for many years now. Whilst CPI is not the true or sole measure of inflation, it's all we've got. If we accept the co's 2% offer, the only way we can go wage wise, is backwards.

It should also be noted, that in the history of the company there has not been a real pay rise for pilots, except some years ago, when DH8 captain's pay was slightly increased to make it just higher than a BAe146 F/O's pay. Our wage today, is essentially what it was when the company was founded circa '91 plus annual CPI movement. None of Hockey's touted real wage increases for us.

We're not asking for a real wage increase, all we want is to maintain the current, not unreasonable CPI increment.

ITCZ 19th Jun 2007 23:24

The pilots were/are on individual agreements, as an AWA.
The AWA's were like hundreds of NJS AWA before them, and included CPI increases for salaries and allowances, based on positive movement of the CPI.

Before the 717 was introduced, the NJS pilots were placed in a tough choice. Stand their ground and be out of a job, or give a little in the short term and continue employment.

The deal eventually reached was that the first 74 onto the 717 would contribute to half the cost of endorsement via salary sacrifice. The salsac would be 15k over two years. But it would be repaid in total if the pilot served four years with NJS - 2x payments of $7,500 each on January 2008 and January 2009.

146 and 717 pilots were also asked to take a nominal $1000/$600 annual paycut during the introduction period of the 717. If both the 146 and 717 fleets would agree to this, NJS would package it as a $2000/$1200 pay reductions Capt/FO to QantasLink. Payback? Yes. Salary to be reinstated once the introduction complete, or a nine or more 717 placed on the AOC.

Long story short, NJS did not keep its end of the bargain. Pilots moving onto the 717 found that the company took more than was agreed to. Example: 717 trainees got NO RDO's during the time they spent in the sim and line training with Jetstar. In some cases this took 4 months. Some pilots are owed 30 days off at home base as clearly spelled out in their AWA. NJS refuses to honour this - "it makes no commercial sense!" despite it being a employment term that THEY wrote in.

The 146 pilots that chose not to, or could not, go across to the 717 saw what was going on and elected to stay on their 146 agreement, as was their right.

Its an individual contract, remember.

Those agreements have not expired.

However NJS argues that the bargaining agent for the 146 pilots, the NJS Pilot Group, made a new agreement to cover both the 146 and the 717, and this agreement supercedes the old.

The new agreement also has CPI, but the lower salary, which has NOT been reinstated following the 717 introduction.

The 146 pilots elected to stay on their current, valid, unexpired agreement. NJS then quietly refused to pay them their contracted CPI increase last year, and has said that it will not make any more CPI increases unless those pilots sign a 'new' AWA.

That is duress.

Problem is, that 'new' AWA has not been negotiated with anyone, let alone their nominated bagaining agent.

NJS then started going heavy on pilots for being slow to sign, wanting to amend individual terms, discuss terms when the pilots had 'accepted' AWA sight unseen.

NJS has broken the law, several laws, and the OWS is prosecuting a breach of the WorkChoices regulations.

Shed Dog Tosser 20th Jun 2007 00:05

ITCZ, with respect, it is obvious where your allegances lie regarding Union representation.

But what is also obvious is the it is the perception of 100 plus pilots at NJS ( not to mention the RFDS and XR ), that the AFAP has dropped the ball, that is why they have gone to the TWU.

Apparently many other organisations in WA have had the same experiences with AFAP.

There are presently pilots from organisations other than NJS joining TWU and not the AFAP.

The TWU is not the beast we all know from the past, they have evolved from the wife beaters and double pluggers to become a modern'ish organisation with the same core values of protecting members.

Now in the NJS case you neglect to mention the bargaining period that has been applied for by the TWU ( on behalf of its members ), this period is when real progress can take place, this for interest is one of the few times employee's can legally take sanctioned "action", be that strikes/stop works or worse. Do you think that will change the outcome ?.

Rumour has it that HR at NJS has already agree'd to talk with the TWU, that is a step forward from the past.

One last point, not sure exactly how 2% CPI can be percieved as fair, the cost of living has increased at a greater rate than this, the cost of housing for one has increased a lot more than 2%

Captahab 20th Jun 2007 01:04

SDT, thank you for that, that is what I should have said.
The old Feds nonsense of "we are waiting for them to get back to us but we don't think they will buy it" days are gone.

The stalling and blaming consultation procedure is long gone.

ITCZ, its not a case of picking the best at the time to fight for you, its knowing that you are being fairly and efficiently represented.
If the AFAP were as quick to put their hand up and say enough as they are to put it out for their 1% we would'nt be having this discussion.

Ahab's $0.02

ITCZ 20th Jun 2007 02:58

Ahab and SDT,

I hear what you are saying, but lets remember that there are two issues at NJS, and we should not confuse them.

The issues being:

Issue (1) A breach of contract. At least 33 x 146 pilots that have a valid, current, AWA that the company drafted, have been underpaid thousands of dollars. These pilots have no particular wish to change the terms of their employment. They are happy to motor on with their existing terms and conditions of employment (and they are a pretty modest set of conditions by RPT jet standards)

That is the problem we took to the OWS to fix, last year.

Issue (2) The unwillingness and/or inability of NJS to properly engage with its pilots in discussions on terms and conditions, and broker a 'win-win' arrangement that is fair for all pilots, old and new, and productive for the company.

That is the problem we took to the TWU to fix, last month.

My dissatisfaction with Ahab's original post is a reaction to his unfairness and jumping to conclusions, not my allegiance to a particular union.

We told them to go sit on the bench. Don't dump on the AFAP for "dropping the ball" on that issue when we benched them.

ITCZ 20th Jun 2007 03:54

SDT, might I make a few points about your comments?

But what is also obvious is the it is the perception of 100 plus pilots at NJS ( not to mention the RFDS and XR ), that the AFAP has dropped the ball, that is why they have gone to the TWU.
Not really. The AFAP had a little over 60% financial members at NJS. Only one of those AFAP members has resigned his membership, for a technical reason. As far as I know, all other AFAP members want to remain so, and are 'double ticketed' with the TWU and paying subs to two unions.

Pilots are notorious for being cheap. When pilots are happy to continue contributing $700-$1260 per annum to a union that is not representing them at the table, well that tells me something. Not quite "gone to the TWU."

Apparently many other organisations in WA have had the same experiences with AFAP.
I know that Skywest did so a few years ago, I am not aware of the reasons why. You cannot discount the inevitable "we do it differently here in WA" tensions! Neither of us know the reasons and the players, we should avoid speculation.

There are presently pilots from organisations other than NJS joining TWU and not the AFAP.
Good on them, especially if they were not in any union before. Better off in any union than none at all.

I hope that they picked the TWU because they took a look at who they were and what they needed from a union, and are not simply following the herd.

The TWU is not the beast we all know from the past, they have evolved from the wife beaters and double pluggers to become a modern'ish organisation with the same core values of protecting members.
I suspect they never were the double pluggers they were made out to be!

Never underestimate the politics of envy -- there are a lot of 'middle class' folk that went to university and got themselves into 'professional occupations' that look across at the Cashed Up Bogans -- left school at Yr10 and are now paid $120k+ to drive trucks, build McMansions and take overseas holidays.

I am prepared to consider that maybe the TWU got those conditions for their people because they are smart, organised, and savvy.

Now in the NJS case you neglect to mention the bargaining period that has been applied for by the TWU ( on behalf of its members ), this period is when real progress can take place, this for interest is one of the few times employee's can legally take sanctioned "action", be that strikes/stop works or worse. Do you think that will change the outcome ?.
Couple of points..
I've received three newsletters and mail from the TWU in the last month and none of them mention that a bargaining period has been commenced. In fact I am told by my local rep that it will not take place until a number of agreements fall due on 30th June. Maybe then a notice of bargaining might be sent.

By legally sanctioned I guess you mean protected industrial action? Yes that can take place.

Let me dispel a few ideas about what constitutes protected industrial action under WorkChoices.

There will be no stoppages, no strikes, no secondary boycotts. That stuff is ancient history.

In April of this year, the Australian Nursing Federation obtained an order for protected industrial action in support of the Northern Territory EBA for Nurses. One of the first granted under WorkChoices. The protected industrial action consisted of permission for nurses to do only those duties that fell under their qualification as Registered or Enrolled Nurses. Normally you could instruct a Nurse to do clerical work related to patient care, make beds etc. However, during the period of protected industrial action, ANF members, on the days specified, could refuse to do duties that could be done by a doctor, a patient care assistant. Wow! Hardly earth shattering. But full protection. The kicker -- if the nurse exercised that right, he/she would not be paid for the entire shift!.

So, strikes, work to rule, stop work, refuellers going out in support? Its 2007, guys, stop dreaming!

It will be more likely that it will be stuff like refusing to take a duty extension (and ending up in a flea pit in Paraburdoo). Refusing to do a CNS overnight because the accommodation has not been assessed as suitable. Refusing to shorten rostered rest periods to CAO 48 Exemption minimums, even though it means you will be home later. Refusing to take an aircraft with more than 3x OMEL. Refusing to do flight and duty timesheets that could be completed by the Senior Base.

And have your pay docked.

First ask, what is a realistic scenario for industrial action in our workplace, today? Realise it will cost each pilot some money or inconvenience.

For the first time in a long time, NJS pilots are motivated to take action. I am just concerned that not everybody has the same picture in their head as to what industrial action means these days. And if we are not all marching to the same beat of the drum, there will be hiccups, and diminished effectiveness.

Rumour has it that HR at NJS has already agree'd to talk with the TWU, that is a step forward from the past.
Funny, the rumour around here is that they are politely taking their calls, but telling them they have no desire to speak with them!

One last point, not sure exactly how 2% CPI can be percieved as fair, the cost of living has increased at a greater rate than this, the cost of housing for one has increased a lot more than 2%
The NJS proposal is a constraint of their own making. They took on the extended 717 contract on a tight price, with a capped 2% increase over the five years. It is not about fairness, it is about the company thinking its pilots would voluntarily accept diminishing conditions because the best deal they could make was crap!

Just giving you feedback from where I sit, SDT. Unchecked assumptions rapidly turn into 'truth' ;)

freddyKrueger 20th Jun 2007 05:08


However, during the period of protected industrial action, ANF members, on the days specified, could refuse to do duties that could be done by a doctor, a patient care assistant. Wow! Hardly earth shattering. But full protection. The kicker -- if the nurse exercised that right, he/she would not be paid for the entire shift!.
That is precisely why there is such a looming crisis in nursing & teaching. People are simply training for other jobs or not at all because they have a choice. Aviation is no different.

Toolman101 20th Jun 2007 07:34

ITCZ
RE: your posts

Well thought out and to the point.

It also highlights that NJS are serial recidivists when it comes to honouring agreements.

One has to ask where does this mentalilty come from. Is it from the CEO or from Cobham?:sad:

Shed Dog Tosser 20th Jun 2007 10:03

ITCZ,

In many ways we are from the same end of the topic, although;


As far as I know, all other AFAP members want to remain so, and are 'double ticketed' with the TWU and paying subs to two unions.
Whilst i am happy to be proven incorrect, it appears to me fanciful to suggest that NJS Pilots ( or any Pilot ) is happy to pay membership to another Union, as their present union was unable to provide the support requested/needed, and continue to pay 1% percent to the original non performing organisation.


There will be no stoppages, no strikes, no secondary boycotts. That stuff is ancient history.
I am not so certain of this, perhaps you should have a chat with the TWU rep. These are not the most impacting options at hand, are they ?.


The NJS proposal is a constraint of their own making. They took on the extended 717 contract on a tight price, with a capped 2% increase over the five years. It is not about fairness, it is about the company thinking its pilots would voluntarily accept diminishing conditions because the best deal they could make was crap!
Good on them, when work was lean they bit the bullet with the operator, now times are good, a little in return is deserved.Good luck !!.

Just to clarify, " Wife Beaters " is slang for blue bonds cotton singlets and "Double Pluggers" are the same for cheap rubber thongs ( you know the ones with the double plugged straps in the middle ) :).

Charliethewonderdog 20th Jun 2007 14:30


Well done to the NJS boys for sticking together and helping the new hires.
......is that the same new hires that bent over and excepted $61800 - $3500 = $58,300 to be an f/O for an airline??? yes good on those NJS boys and girls who were on the old AWA for trying to raise the bar and getting what they are entitled too but for crying out dont ever feel sorry for the so called proffesional pilots that excepted the new AWA. I hope they live with that AWA for a very long time.:ugh: as they say " pay peanuts get monkeys".


Any EBA or AWA that is not keeping pace with the CPI is unfair and is effectively a constant decrease in pay.
Most AWA's/EBA's seem to be a going backwards on an annual calculation, the regionals have been falling behind for years.
Yes and it's time the AWARD went up with CPI as well.

WynSock 20th Jun 2007 23:06

And our little PM suggests that pollies deserve the 6.7% pay rise because they have similar levels of responsibility as executives in the private sector.

What a crock. Since when have salaries reflected 'responsibility'.

Pilots would deserve exponentially more money than a fricken truck driver at a mine site hauling rocks for e.g.

The catch phrase is "competitiveness". Pilots love the work, they are(were) a dime a dozen - so they have to be paid peanuts to keep the company competitive.
CEOs like Darth are very rare - so they have to be paid $120,000 net per fortnight - "we need to attract talent, so we pay a competitive salary".

:yuk:

R.Cruizo 21st Jun 2007 02:18

" Don't ever feel sorry the so called professional pilots who excepted the new AWA."

Most new hires don't expect anyone to feel sorry for them. They knew the conditions before signing and will live with it. Crap money for first 2 years.

" $ 61 800- 3500= $ 58 300 to be an F/O for an Airline" ( Yr 1)

Very clever! Now try this one : $ 58 300- 38 000 ( Braz F/O) = $ 20 000 extra. OR

$ 58 300 - 56 500 ( Braz Capt)= $ 1800 extra. + no loading or unloading of pax baggage. no refuelling of your own aircraft. No being rostered on your reserve days to do gardening or wash windows!

GA is where most of the "New Hires" come from.


" I hope they will live with that AWA for a very long time"

At least 3 years I expect.

"Pay peanuts, you get monkeys"

Obviously Dogs too!

Over and gout 21st Jun 2007 02:38

I wonder if all the cadets who paid $32000 to "work" as a Skippers FO for a year could be entitled to getting paid out.

Think about it.

Endorsement cost : $8500.

That leaves $23500 which gets given back to the cadet in the form of pay which means they are effectively not being paid for almost 12 months.

Without getting into the evils of cadetships, surely they are entitled to be paid for working and not having to pay their own wage.....

Charliethewonderdog 21st Jun 2007 05:13


" Don't ever feel sorry the so called professional pilots who excepted the new AWA."
Most new hires don't expect anyone to feel sorry for them. They knew the conditions before signing and will live with it. Crap money for first 2 years.
" $ 61 800- 3500= $ 58 300 to be an F/O for an Airline" ( Yr 1)
Very clever! Now try this one : $ 58 300- 38 000 ( Braz F/O) = $ 20 000 extra. OR
$ 58 300 - 56 500 ( Braz Capt)= $ 1800 extra. + no loading or unloading of pax baggage. no refuelling of your own aircraft. No being rostered on your reserve days to do gardening or wash windows!
GA is where most of the "New Hires" come from.
" I hope they will live with that AWA for a very long time"
At least 3 years I expect.
"Pay peanuts, you get monkeys"
Obviously Dogs too!
:ugh::ugh::ugh:
.......and $58,000- $110,000 = $-52,000 if you were one of those passegers you used to fly to and from mine sites driving a dump truck.
You can justify taking the job as an F/O on a 717 for 58,300 (2yrs) all you like, but dont deny the fact you have lowered the bar further than it has ever been in lowered this country :D:D, and you have managed to except these conditions at a time when every Airline in the World is screeming for drivers. I dare say you will soon be on less money than a Bras captain if companies follow Brindabella Airlines lead and offer pay rises.
You do realise there is a pilot shortage dont you??
National Jet is lowering aviation standards to new levels, apparently new Cabin crew have to pay for own training and are bonded. When will it stop???
When we refuse to work for CR@P.
So justify to yourself and your mates, why you have taken these conditions, and enjoy jumping into your new shiny jet and give yourself a pat on the back:D, You've made it. And I hope you have it for a long time, when the rest of us get or wait for what we are worth.

R.Cruizo 21st Jun 2007 06:26

Your entitled to you opinion Charlie as much as anyone !

Don't blame New Guys or other guys accepting upgrades for something that was put together by Management\ HR.

The " Bar" plummeted at NJS and in the industry way before Nov 06.

You'll get no argument from myself or anyone that the salary scale is poor for a Jet F/O position as are the New upgrade AWA's.

The operating conditions at NJS are alot higher than in most GA operations which I suggest is the main attraction for New Guys. Many would'nt give a sh#t if the aircraft is shiny, or new, or old.

RC

Charliethewonderdog 21st Jun 2007 06:53


Your entitled to you opinion Charlie as much as anyone !
Don't blame New Guys or other guys accepting upgrades for something that was put together by Management\ HR.
The " Bar" plummeted at NJS and in the industry way before Nov 06.
I do blame them for signing the new AWA. Because THEY SIGNED IT. If no one signed it would have to be improved to attract your signature.
Conratulations to those who did say NO to the AWA, and I hear they are still desperate for pilots and are giving next day interviews over a lazy coffee. Again I say " pay peanuts, get Monkeys"

You'll get no argument from myself or anyone that the salary scale is poor for a Jet F/O position as are the New upgrade AWA's.THEN WHY SIGN THE BLOODY THING???????????????
The operating conditions at NJS are alot higher than in most GA operations which I suggest is the main attraction for New Guys. Many would'nt give a sh#t if the aircraft is shiny, or new, or old.
RC :*:{This my friend is the attitude that companies like National Joke have been able to expliot so easily with people like your self.
Just because it is better than GA doesn't make it BETTER. If you are comparing your life in an airline to that of your time in GA and are happy with marginally better conditions THAN GOD HELP US ALL if the management of airlines read your statement. And I'm sure you have carried this sought of attitude with you through your career in GA and undercut AWARD conditions, fellow pilots etc... to get to those magnificent heights you have now acheived.
Congratulations:D:D.
Yes my post was blunt and rude and dont know your position. But PLEASE never use the argument " it's better than GA" as an excuse to sell your sole to the National Joke Management. That my friend makes me feel ill.
Other excuses that I would except:
1. Missed out on every other Airline Interview and this was my last chance to fly a Jet.
2. I'm From Perth and dont want to move. And I made enough money in the property boom.
3. it looks like a QANTAS jet, and thus chicks dig me.
.....anyone got any others?????

R.Cruizo 21st Jun 2007 07:22

OK Charlie I give up!!

I don't know your position either. For the record I spent a large chunk of my career overseas on contract work.

Clearly it is something you are bitter about!

If you want to continue this then feel free to PM me,otherwise lets leave the thread to it's origin ie . The OWS issue and Management.

RC

ITCZ 21st Jun 2007 08:39

SDT,

Whilst i am happy to be proven incorrect, it appears to me fanciful to suggest that NJS Pilots ( or any Pilot ) is happy to pay membership to another Union, as their present union was unable to provide the support requested/needed, and continue to pay 1% percent to the original non performing organisation.
If you haven't worked it out by now, I am a little closer to the action than you. You are a spectator that has just walked through the gate. I am on the field and playing the game, mud on the jersey, copping a finger in the eye, etc.

It is not "fanciful". It is hard numbers, mate. I have no need to imagine or theorise -- I know the numbers because I see the roll.

The fact that the situation is counter-intuitive is what makes it remarkable. Scores of NJS AFAP members joined the TWU, and all bar one, have retained their expensive AFAP membership.


There will be no stoppages, no strikes, no secondary boycotts. -- I am not so certain of this, perhaps you should have a chat with the TWU rep. These are not the most impacting options at hand, are they?
I have had several chats with RB. What did he tell you when you rang him?

Good on them, when work was lean they bit the bullet with the operator, now times are good, a little in return is deserved.Good luck !!
I am now certain that your knowledge and dealings with NJS are from the periphery, if at all. Bit the bullet with the operator?!?!? That is the language of cooperation, when the reality is we were rolled!

"A little in return is deserved?" What the....?

Listen up. Large companies do not listen to words like "deserved" or "loyal" when it comes to wage claims. They'd have you for breakfast if that was how you approached an EBA negotiation.

Large businesses use words like Required Productivity Gains, EBITA, Key Performance Indicators, Internal Competitiveness, blah blah blah. Words that translate as -- greatest output for minimum cost.

They don't give a rat's arse about how good you think you are. Hours only matter if it meets CASA minimums. Experience on type or on glass only matters because it reduces training costs. Knowing how to apply an MEL in a way that is both (a) safe (b) legal and (c) avoids grounding the jet at an outport is appreciated by very few outside the flight ops department, if any.

They only start caring when their ability to put aeroplanes in the sky, on time and earning money, is affected.

Having perfectly serviceable aeroplanes sitting on the tarmac when they could be generating revenue, gets their attention. And if it is because their aint' enough pilots, then they start looking at the problem. If it is persistent, then they will only throw more money at it if that is the only way out.

The only thing that stands in the way of that, is a couple of generations of we pilots that are conditioned to "keep the show on the road" and accept callouts on RDO, duty extensions, etc. I am one of that generation too.

The point that I try to make, too forcefully it seems sometimes, yet it doesn't sink in, is that no company is going to hand you significantly better conditions without individual pilots being prepared to make a fuss, and ruffle a few feathers, using legal and actionable means.

The only people that can effect the changes we want in our workplaces, is us. You and I together. Not the union, not the workplace rep, not the government.

If you want something changed in the current industrial environment, you have to cop some flak yourself. You have to bear with situations that are uncomfortable, tense, not clear cut. You have to talk the language of business and place dollar values on our colleagues talent, capability, specialist skill sets, competitive advantage, proven problem solving ability. Not schoolyard tenets of 'deserve' or 'fair'. You have to be prepared to bear some of the risk, and accept short term loss. You have to be patient and wait for strategies to come to fruition, sometimes months later.


"Double Pluggers" are the same for cheap rubber thongs ( you know the ones with the double plugged straps in the middle ) .
Typing this in Darwin NT. It was 30 degrees today, the 21st July -- Singlet and thongs are de rigeur :D I must point out that double pluggers are not cheap rubber thongs. Double pluggers are superior thongs. They are much more durable, the double plug design meaning that you are less likely to suffer a blowout and resulting cuts and abrasions as you scurry for muddies in Rapid Creek. Moreover, if they are made of proper rubber, they are not cheap. :=

yowie 21st Jun 2007 12:02

Hey ITCZ'y,all that stuff aside,hows the new chair going:D

Jellyfish 21st Jun 2007 12:28

:ugh:You can all argue the toss about AFAP vs TWU all day n night
But in reality benched or not benched that AFAP failed to achieve anything more than lip service in the last year in fact we were starting to wonder whose side LC was on

Whatever whoever brings them to justice is not the point........ NJS mis management and bullying brought this on themselves and now the axe has fallen on PR from HR :=

the staff r only resonding to their antagonism:D


I know of at least 6 NJS staff who have resigned their memberships from the AFAP..........


you wish Jellyfish:rolleyes:


All times are GMT. The time now is 17:27.


Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.