NJS Pilots - 97% vote for Protected Industrial Action
 

Results of secret ballot of NJS pilots:

97% YES

.....to all 10 forms of industrial action approved by AIRC Senior Deputy President Lacy.

NJS pilots can now take legal, protected, industrial action in pursuit of their claim for a decent collective agreement.

They can choose whichever of the 10 methods to use as they desire, at a time of their choosing.

1. 4 hour stoppages.
2. 24 hour stoppages.
3. 48 hour stoppages.
4. Overtime bans.
5. Callout and callback bans.
6. Refusal of roster changes inside 7 days.
7. Refusal of duty extensions (NJS operates under the CAO 48 exemption).
8. Refuse to fly aircraft carrying defects (operating under OMEL, manufacturer Configuration Deviation List, PUS provisions).
9. Refuse to wear the uniform.
10. Refuse to use personal telephones for company contact and/or company business (therefore uncontactable for crewing shortages, etc)

NJS pilots are warmed up and ready to play. A full bag of clubs, and the TWU as their caddy, veterans of many successful tours.

After years of 'gentlemans' discussions, NJS pilots got nowhere. They said "Hey, start paying attention. There is a shortage, your pilots are sick of this. We don't want more money, we just want our terms and conditions honoured."

NJS thought - Idle threat. Pilots will fold, again. Its just a noisy minority, the usual suspects. They never organised themselves properly in the past!

Pilots joined TWU in droves. 80% membership within a month or two.
:ouch:

NJS thought - Hmm. Oh well, anyone can join a union. They wont push for industrial action. Its just not their way.

Pilots applied to AIRC for protected industrial action.
:ouch::ouch:

NJS thought - Hmm. Don't worry, we can oppose the application on the grounds of damage to the economy and third party interests.

Senior Deputy President Lacy approved the Industrial Action.
:ouch::ouch::ouch:

NJS thought - Hmm. Not so good. But we will request 7 days notice of any action. We are a special case - australia's specialist aviation service company!

Senior Deputy President Lacy said - your arguments are "short on detail and unconvincing." You are a normal aussie business. Standard notice period only.
:ouch::ouch::ouch::ouch:

NJS thought - Don't worry. Pilots will never vote it up. They'll be too worried about their jobs!

Pilots overwhelmingly vote in favour of all ten proposed action items.
:ouch::ouch::ouch::ouch::ouch:


Hey, NJS, how many times do you roll the dice before you work out you are LOSING?!?!?

A combination of all 10 would be nice! Fancy dress would be interesting though... any suggestions? :}

I suggest "wigs". Afro's are good.
Seriously, good luck to NJS crews in achieving your goals.:ok:

Don't back down.

Gee, 97% eh?

Now that's a familiar figure to quite a few people from that-year-we-dare-not-mention-here.

(Just in case there's someone out there who needs a translation: 97% was the percentage of pilots who voted who were in favour of industrial action back in 198tynine.)

Yeah but not one will be 'resigning' this time... the beauty of PIA.

97% is a pretty solid result for ALL ten questions. What were the absolute numbers, that is, how many actually voted?

Waiting for Pas A Frozo and Aircraft to kick this thread along....:ugh:

Voting papers were sent by the AEC to all NJS Pilots that were both (a) TWU members and (b) on expired AWAs. TWU coverage at NJS is over 80% of line pilots. Around 55% of pilots are on expired AWA, that is, the nominal expiry date of the AWA has passed and a new agreement is due. New hires and recent command upgrades/fleet changers are on current AWA.

Vote was conducted strictly in accordance with the rules (Workplace Relations Act 1996, as amended by "WorkChoices") and overseen by an independent government agency (AEC = Australian Electoral Commission, Adelaide office).

Vote was by secret ballot. No 'peer pressure' by asking for a show of hands at a meeting. I don't know what happened back in eightee9, but this one was a government ballot paper, completed in the privacy of the pilot's home, straight into a sealed envelope to the AEC.

The vote would have been carried if at least 50% of eligible pilots had voted and returned at 50%+1 in favour. The fact that 100% of eligible pilots voted, no donkey votes, no votes discarded due to incorrect marking or not following voting instructions, giving a result of 97% in favour of ALL proposed actions, prompted an involuntary response of "Remarkable!" from a seasoned industrial player!

There is a clear message here. The NJS pilots have stuck religiously to the rules. The WorkChoices rules were designed by prominent right-wing lobbyists, legal, and industrial specialists to eliminate all possible 'undesireable' union influence and persuasive tactics. Many NJS pilots that would like to have voted "yes" were excluded by their current AWA status.

This result is cleaner than a whistle. 2 pilots dissenting out of 70+ eligible to vote. The lunatic fringe will make their hysterical arguments... they will just have to wait until a Fascist party puts up some candidates for Federal parliament.

In the meantime, NJS senior management is having a "real world" experience. They didn't listen to their 'gentlemans' Pilot Groups, they didn't heed the warnings of their Flight Operations people, they didn't wake up and smell the coffee.

Time for NJS to stop its posturing, and come to the table.

Lets talk.

:D :D :D
Funny, isnt it? If someone hadnt been so keen to push Far Horizons :yuk: up the pilots :mad:es a year ago theyd still all be on AWA.

I need to know something first...

What is it that is hoped will be achieved? This statement from ITCZ didn't actually make sense:

If you can't work it out from ITCZ's first post then you're obviously not smart enough to be commenting further anyway. :rolleyes:

Back in your box.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUvEouWA29o

:ok:

What? No ties? WTF am I going to pin my long-service medal to?? :{

ps: Keg 1, Aircraft 0. :ok:

You cannot be serious?
 

Where are your brains aircraft? :ugh::rolleyes:

Good luck guys.

Yes don't forget your clackers!

Hey Pakistan-Air-Airforce, better warm up the Hercs and the frozos..... :p

Why couldn't the AFAP do this ?.

Cause its all toooo hard.
:mad: :mad::mad::} :} :}

Can't help but think that this action will be the first turn of the worm in this shortage of experience that is becoming very apparent.

Best of luck to all at NJS.

:ok:

Hmmm let's see... 55% on expired AWAs. Let's be generous and assume that 90% of them were TWU members. Of those, 97% were in favour... well I don't know how many pilots are in NJS, but by my math, that isn't even a majority of pilots in NJS who voted yes. So the 97% figure would appear to be an ever-so-slight distortion of the real picture. Could be wrong though. Somebody enlighten me...

Probably close to 50% of total NJS pilots voted.
The other 50% were not entitled to vote as they are on current AWA's.
Work No Choices :yuk:
To make it clear, 1 voted No and 1 donkey vote.

Any timeline on when the first action is due to take place?

Will it be a gradual start or straight in with both hobnail boots :E

good luck with the action:ok:

Good Onyas
 

Good onya to the NJS Pilots. I hope you guys can strike a fair and equitable agreement out of your action. The QF LAMES are watching on with interest as their agreement negotiations teeter on the brink of Protected Industrial Action. All the best and Good Luck!

with respect Toolman
 

wouldn't that give the game away a little bit too soon?

Go get 'em!!! :ok:

Now while 'no uniforms' (at all) would be a sight to see, we don't want to scare off the pax!! :}

Would love to see a combo of all 10. No use of 'private telephones' -PRICELESS! Clap on the back for whoever came up with that one! If they invoke that, NJS will have to pony up and buy everyone a phone if they want to be able to call them... yeah right!! And like anyone would answer it anyway! :E

Will be watching with interest... this has the potential to cause big waves around the place... knock-on effects to other carriers who use their services and so forth... XR better brace themselves as well!

Numbers
 

Remoak. The TWU membership is probably about 75% (and rising) of all Company pilots and almost all of those have voted for industrial action at various meetings, even though they can't join in. Some others feel similarly but don't wish to join the TWU. ALL in all, feeling for the industrial action is very high amongst the NJS Pilots who couldn't vote this time. It isn't 100% support, but you will never get that from a group of individualist pilots. This result makes the AFAP's 'bleatings' that nothing could be done to influence NJS management look absolutely pathetic. The AFAP need a clean out of 'time servers' who no longer have the motivation or energy to kick goals for pilots.

And so it begins...

good luck guys/gals, it's about time someone made some noise, let's hope the east coast is listening!!!!

Is the goal here to abolish all AWA's and have everyone on a collective agreement?

What is the plan for current new pilots who are on AWA's? Will they get brought up to the A scale pay?

I am new to this discussion and would like to know specific goals.

PM me if you like.

GC

Check PM, you sure you not Wongai customer?

Only if you gave them the specific course of action, ie 4 hours stoppage, as it is I believe you have to give them notice that an action is going to take place on a particular date. So they will know its coming but not what

if I'm wrong on this assumption, I'm sure someone with more knowledge will correct me:ok:

What for?? All the charter work they're about to get from cancelled flights??
I don't think would be too many unhappy campers over at XR.

People, I think EVERY aviation "manager" in Australia is watching this VERY closely, the ramifications are significant for everyone.

With a federal election campaign in full swing :rolleyes: both major parties will also be watching very carefully, both will no doubt claim that this PIA proves their own case!

Good luck and stick together :ok:

No! me go gateway, u go wongai!....

Bravo to the boys and girls at NJS! I can't think of a better time to be pushing for better T & C ....

So, let me get this straight!...

97% of half the NJS pilots voted for industrial action...

is that correct?

and, if so, does that mean that the other half (50%) will continue working?...

as what?...scabs, or simply not involved?

Someone like to enlighten me about this new form of industrial action?

One of our guys posted this on Qrewroom. I don't know his background or how accurate the information is. I put it here to provide context and that's it.

Amos, if a crew isn't legally allowed to go on strike then I'm not going to label them a scab if they choose to work. They can be held personally liable for any illegal industrial action. Besides, even with half the crews working it'll still leave NJS in a bind.

ok!...so, how does this all fit in with the Vic nurses dispute going on at the moment? And will any NJS action be in the same vein as theirs?

1/2 NJS Pilots are on expired AWA's the other half are on current AWA's.
The Vic nurses are on EBA's I believe, they all expired at the same time. diiferent story. Work No Choices at its best.

Game on....:E

Hang tough guys and girls, this is the watershed

Amos,

Under work [no]choices, only persons on an expired AWA can apply to take PIA. In this case only TWU members on expired AWAare eligible to vote for, and take PIA. That's the law that so many voted for 3+ years ago. :{

Absolute Nonsence!