AIPA President Drops the ball on Lateline 31/10/2011
 

No disrespect to Captain Jackson, as he strikes me as a dedicated leader of the AIPA. I must say though, that after watching his performance tonight on Lateline (31/10/2011), I have to wonder if he's the person best suited to be publicly speaking on behalf of the AIPA.

While I'm sure he discharges the duties and responsibilities of his role as president of AIPA with all the integrity, intellect and diplomacy this post requires, one can only conclude that his presence on Lateline tonight was a lost opportunity for the pilot group to get their points of view across to the viewing audience.

He was clearly nervous, and that is understandable given the magnitude of the situation. However he lacked any clearly articulated answers to the questions put to him, and at times it seemed even the simplest of responses were vague, disjointed and fumbled through. There was no polish or sense of authority in his delivery.

The questions put to him were dollies, loaded with opportunities to articulate and expand on the pilots' positions on key issues, events and concerns. It was almost as if the presenter was deliberately feeding Captain Jackson the questions the pilots have been longing for the media to ask for all these past frustrating months. In short it was a chance to put the heat back on the company and apply the blow torch.

I'm sorry to say that by the end of the interview he looked like a man who had been searching for the truth and who wasn't comfortable with his answers. AIPA can't hold a press conference ever five minutes and expect the media to turn up. Qantas management can - and will! In the next few weeks they're going to take every opportunity afforded them to hammer home their position. Again and again and again.

This was one of the few opportunities you get to put across your position; where you're the only ones getting air time. No management shouting you down, or other unions fighting to get their members concerns heard over yours.

I'm not a huge fan of the TWU's man. He strikes me as the kind of person who has only enough RAM in his head to remember four sentences at a time. But by the time the interview is over you've heard those same four sentences repeated forty times. You know his position in no uncertain terms. By the end of Captain Jackson's interview tonight all you 'kind of knew' was that it's 'kind of not about the money', and 'kind of about engagement'............'kind of'. With lots of ums and ahs thrown in.

There's twenty days . . .. and counting . . .. unless the conciliation period is extended. There's only a small window of opportunity to change popular opinion. You can tell after Joyce's stuff up grounding the fleet there's a change in the prevailing wind, and a definite chance to win the masses over to our side. While I'm not a Qantas pilot, I do feel like we're all in this together. Every kick needs to be a goal though.

So my question is this - given that this is the end game and there is so much at stake - do you not feel that it would be prudent to dip into the war chest and employ some PR professionals? At the very least they would be able to create talking points and structure some pre-packaged answers and fall back points. This would then ensure that those who talk on behalf of the union membership stand the best chance of impressing the media, the public, (and maybe even the bosses), as to their professionalism, their coherence and their credibility.

There can be little doubt that the aviation industry in Australia continues to need a strong Qantas. Looking to the role of the pilots will play in contributing to this long term objective , I believe the union must be successful in securing Australian jobs for Australian pilots now. If not, they will be too weak in the future to stop management imposing their will on what will be left of the Qantas work force.

In short AIPA - it's time to bring out your A game!

The Monster!:ok:

Securing jobs at 530 000 AUD a year for a 380 Captain..............you have to be kidding. Not one airline can afford to pay this amount of money.
So if it's not about money but just jobs..............why don't you guys chip in a little. It still won't make you poor.
And if you're still not convinced, just watch this Late Line report about what the markets think.

Lateline Business - ABC

I have to agree. This interview was a silver platter of opportunity for AIPA to set itself aside from the other unions and crystalise what their position is. The interviewer even said "so it's not all about the money then?" as if to feed Barry the line. Unfortunately, it was a wasted opportunity. In the same way that leaders of large organisations are not expected to do their own PR, neither should Barry. It's simply not working. I say that as an AIPA member but non QF pilot.

I think AIPA are a victim of timing, and are being dragged down by the industrial action of other unions. Their public stance needs to distance themselves from this.

Some suggested points to drive home:

Red ties and inflight PAs have not disrupted anybody. Pilots are aviation professionals who take themselves, their profession and safety culture seriously. For Joyce & co to suggest Qantas pilots would be 'too distracted' to discharge their responsibilities safely is offensive. In the current climate, there is no point negotiating on anything other than job security because it is painfully obvious that the company intends to significantly downsize its international division. AIPA is not just another bully union, it is a professional association looking to secure a future for its professional members. Any refusal to negotiate on job security for international pilots by Qantas is a refusal to take safety seriously.

It looks like arbitration would put an end to any hope of job security being negotiated on, so the next three weeks are critical.

I think the Qantas flights / Qantas pilots thing is too simplistic. The rephrased version that Joyce prefers (paying JQ pilots the same as QF) is getting more air time. And it is effective - Barry Jackson was unable to successfully answer the question on Lateline about how much difference there actually is between JQ and QF pay. It looked really bad.

To crystalise the meaning of the job security clause, some more detail is required. To be honest, I'm not sure I believe in their current stance. I would tend to think that some commitments from the company about the future size of and investment in QF international would be more effective. I think we all realise the entire business model of JQ is based on lower wages.

Maybe it's worth leaping more on that bandwagon? 'This weekend, Joyce has shown his hand about wanting to run Qantas into the ground (figuratively). AIPA is now concerned about the continued existence of an Australian icon.' The general public have a propensity to protect the idea of Qantas the safe, Aussie airline, and AIPA needs to get on that bandwagon.

Just my 2c worth anyway. I want to get involved in some way other than ranting on PPRuNe but it seems like AIPA are intent on handling their own PR.

And what about the moral high ground? Why not get on that bandwagon too?

Unions are being accused of holding QF to ransom. AIPA needs to shoot that down. What Alan Joyce and the board are doing is wrong. It it just not right to destroy a good Australian company and off shore it. Why should Qantas go the way of Arnotts and vegemite? QF is one of Australia's biggest employers. If they are allowed to get away with not committing to keeping Australian jobs with the pilots, there will be no stopping where it goes after that. First it's the pilots, then it's the rest of the workforce. We are not holding Qantas to ransom, we are holding them to account. We will negotiate on anything, but we need to know our company wants us into the future.

Pull at the heart strings, guys. Come on! It's publicity A game time!

On another note, Bill Shorten was on-side and on-message in his interview on the same show I thought.

Can anyone post a link to the interview?

bring back Brian McCarthy.....

Barry Jackson:
Lateline - 31/10/2011: Qantas needs to engage with workforce: Jackson

Bill Shorten:
Lateline - 31/10/2011: Not their only option: Shorten

Lateline - 31/10/2011: Qantas needs to engage with workforce: Jackson

i'm just an observer, been watching from a tower near you for 30+ years...

not impressed with this performance but not surprised given the level of pr and media coaching available to AJ and his cronies

felt he could have nailed home a few key points: premeditation, cynical timing - AGM, CHOGM, spring carnival etc..
solidarity with TWU etc, real or not, would help in the pr war..

can't wait for comment from gruen planet on wednesday!!!

bon chance
Z

I thought it was fairly positive for the union. I don't think it helps to berate a leader who has been thrown a curve ball of historical proportions over the last few days. He seems fairly humble and approachable, like somebody the public can trust, that's the most important thing.

I beg to differ. When I fly, I am absolutly not interested in employee's rant. I just want to get home or wherever, hassle free and not pestered by PA annoucements other than what's expected from a normal airline.
I find this totally unprofessional.

There are other equally public ways to take your ( valid ) claims.
And please...........stop this " It's not about money " At 530 000 AUD for an A380 captain, this is totatlly indecent.
Your operation is losing 200 Millions a year. If your share of the cost is 4% this means 8 Millions for you to cut. Clear and simple.
Forget the pay rise !

How about you ask Mr Joyce to give some of his dough back? The airline clearly can't afford that either.

It appears to me that QF pilots are like most pilots; totally engaged during boom times of promotion and pay rise and yet grumpy and disengaged when the reverse happens. In other words, engagement is something the airline purchases.

What proposals have AIPA placed on the table to ensure QF remains competitive in a changing marketplace? Pay rises and better staff travel.

He did seem still stunned by the recent events and somewhat puzzled that the $500,000 a year A380 pilots were swept up into the other unions' confrontation.

I agree, the questions were softballs. Hopefully he will be coached with better sound bites before the next interview.

Here on the other side of the world the headlines declare that the 'Qantas strike' is over:

Aussie court ends Qantas strike, fleet grounding - BusinessWeek

Aussie court ends Qantas strike that left tens of thousands stranded - Chicago Sun-Times

Qantas Strike 2011 Ends: Australian Court Puts Stop To Grounded Fleet, Labor Dispute

Please Please Please give me a break...how many A380 Captaind actually earn $500000 a year?? J***us PLEASE get real:ugh:

Well, average is more like $415,000 it is claimed:

From: Qantas pilots on high flying wages | thetelegraph.com.au

I'd hazard a guess that the A380 pilots who earn $500,000+ pa were never going to be locked out on Monday night anyway!

Many valid points there MonsterC01.

Maybe Jacko should look into appointing you his briefing officer.

Please check your PMs.

The leader of any union should be able to clearly present their members’ case publically without embarrassment. Last night, an opportunity to present the pilots’ case was missed.

If the president's preformance is typical of how the leadership of AIPA presented their case to investors and the parliament, is it little wonder!!!!

@memyself, I'll bet you will be interested in what the pilot has to say when you hear a loud bang! The oxygen masks fall from the ceiling and the cabin starts filling with smoke.

When you walk off the aircraft in your urine soaked pants, don't forget to remind the pilot just how overpaid he is!

Get off your high uneducated horse!