Virgin Blue to shed 400 jobs ....
 

From courier mail

I say again.
 

Again from the bucket mouth; "what recession?" quote from Sir Dick.

Company working on reducing the number
 

The airline, which flagged capacity reductions at its annual general meeting last year, said the cuts will affect "up to 400 full-time equivalent positions" at Virgin.

It said it hoped to minimise "headcount reduction" by transfer staffing staff to its international offshoot V Australia, as well as part-time work, job sharing, and leave without pay "amongst other contingencies under consideration".

Here is the link. Not good, but may help out V Australia ops. If they knock out 5 aircraft that should be enough crews to ramp up the 777. Hopefully the crew won't mind a holiday in Sydney for 12 months!

So are they planning on cutting any flight crew? Seems to be plenty of surplus 737 crew in Brisbane...

Email from AFAP to VB members suggested pilot redundancies could be avoided if suggested re-crewing options such as VA are accepted?

I thought VA had all the crew they needed.

Or are they still short of F/O's?

A show of hands people... who is willing to jump from the frying pan into the fire??

:)At least you get a free 777 rating?

My understanding is they have crewed the first 3 aircraft (may still be short FOs), but are now trying to crew aircraft 4, 5, 6 and 7.

OK, so to avoid redundancies, VB pilots take up a position with VA. All but 3 I believe, refused originally due to the deplorable T&C's. My understanding is that to qualify for an F/O's position with VA, you must have at least 2000 hours Jet above 40 tonnes. Quite probably many junior VB drivers would not have those hours yet. If the "offer" to transfer to VA is not taken up voluntarily, where on the seniority list will the forced transfers begin?

And more importantly, where will these pilots stand when VA goes T!ts up?! :ouch:

From senior management, 53 pilots are surplus. Are jungle jets still being delivered? If so, why not transfer to it and wait for the good times to come back, which I estimate is 12-18 months away. How many Captains over 63 years old are still flying for VB? I have heard that there may be over 60. I know your super is probaly stuff!d but maybe time to enjoy life without work?:hmm:

BA043,

My info is from within VB and VA, in fact it was only last week VB pilots received another internal offer to crew aircraft 4 and above. VA cruise FOs have been told they will sit there for a long time as VA take on a few more FOs from VB.

Krustyt hat was the requirement, however there is very strong talk that those requirements will be reduced for VB pilots who move across to VA.

what happened to the "expanding out of the recession by creating more jobs" line. good one dick! VBA 23c

Sub plot?
 

Interesting position in that VB Cabin Crew are also getting the same story and are similarly being actively encouraged to move across to V OZ....

The contradiction though is that VB management formerly advised the CC's union this week that "shortly" there will be a need to further
re-deploy "surplus" V Oz C/crew back into the VB domestic network.

Given the limited capacity of V (even with 4 a/c), one could be forgiven for thinking that the only desperate motive may be more about moving as many pilots and c/crew to the inferior V OZ T&C's as possible which of coure provide the company with a more favourable position - especially in terms of comp. redundancies.

Certainly not chicken little time yet, but what was the word Godfrey used so unwisely in the statement to the ASX.............."pragmatic" !

The proof of the bluff/high roll gamble will be the second half results - Given the conservatively forecast V OZ operating losses during Y1 to Y4 start up are;
[quote] "underwritten by VB's strong, cashed up domestic operations" ....
I expect we will see a lot more 'seat of the pants flying' from the Exec level at the bunker. (along with some very cautious qualifications to some previous CEO statements of bravado)

AT

Spoke to a mate whos a VB Engineer, apparently 30 engineering positions are on the chopping block.

Thanks B043.

So there's no room at VA, but management are indicating a need to move people across. Either the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing (not beyond the realms of possibility I suppose), or it is a case of deflection and spin!

Not quite sure what's worse! :{

As an FO who is directly affected by this, the worse thing is not knowing who to listen to.

Some say, sit tight, it is just a scare tactic from management to force guys to accept conditions only favourable to them. They will always need 737 FOs some say.:suspect:

Others say, if you don't look like you're keen and willing to help the company out then you'll be one of those sacked. :(

Option 1. V Aus- Senior FO maybe, but cruise FO..... Forget it.
Option 2. E Jet FO on E Jet pay....better than being unemployed.
Option 3. Pac Bro- Too many unknowns there. Ts & Cs poor.

Only time will tell!!!! I hate having other people determine my future! :ugh::mad::ouch:

Good Luck to others in the same boat!!! Hope you get what you bid for.:ok:

Krusty and B043,

Currently there are 16 positions available at VA for VB pilots. Those on hold at VA will be on hold longer if VB pilots take up the 16 positions.

VA isn't a position..... It's punishment!

"Off to the salt mines! Nurse those stomach ulcers you worthless jetlagged gits...... mush mush...... If you don't like it there will be floggings, lots of floggings and more L.A returns with less rest.... mush mush!.... More days off?...... Mooooore?.... did you say moooore?.... How does a quick Asian trip to fill in the days off sound?..."

"I just spent 6 days with a dutch yarpeee.... teo yeo yaaa... yana yana ooh yana yaa yaaaa"

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