Metro Man pretty well sums it up. Capt Too Far is on the record as saying getting rid of the expat's contract was the removal of the last bastion of colonialism from PNG. Well they have pretty much achieved that.

Good job ANG management team. You guys really should give yourselves a big pat on the back. What a great little airline you have made. It's a shame there are no pilots left to fly the planes.

Now the only thing that can save ANG is a sh*^t load of cash - and PNG is broke so that ain't gonna happen !!!!!!

So Air Niugini is begging guys to work on their days off and then send out a memo cancelling staff leisure travel (which is simply sub load, space available anyway) until the end of the month.

That's seems a clever way to win the hearts and minds of the pilot group in a time of need.

I bailed out of PX about 1 yr ago when they closed offshore basing.I wondered how long it would take for the ****e to hit.Looks like managements "Kakaruks are coming home to roost" about now.Too much damage done for the offer of an extra "30 pieces of silver" to WDO will have any effect.To those still there,plenty of jobs around "in the real world!"

time to get some Antonov's in from the Congo?

they would if they could but there is no money left in the coffers to pay for it!

Only chance is if O'Neil is ousted next Friday and the whole ANG board gets sacked - new management throughout - good chance this will happen

Well an overseas holiday and before we even made it through customs at Mascot I had a whole new chapter of the Pixie soap opera to enjoy. By the end of the drive home, there was another chapter. No wonder it has the highest pprune ratings. Truth is certainly stranger than fiction and in this case living up to the "land of the unexpected" tag they used to use.

Having coffees today with an old PX PNG stalwart who is still very well connected it was extremely interesting.
It seems that he has it on good authority that the PM has a cunning plan to avoid losing the vote of no confidence on Friday 22nd.
Seeing as he is well short of the numbers according to the inside sources, he has a plan worthy of any banana republic dictator.

The thrust of the rumoured plan is to select a group of ministers considered susceptible to a little “incentivising” , and fly them and their associates, wives and whoever to Gurney and feed them money and b.s. for a few days.
Then the plan is that they will return to Moresby and all happily vote 1 for Mr O’Neill. This would be exactly what the “concerned citizens movement” doesn’t want of course.
They have apparently said that they would be happy if nothing changed except the current PM was removed from office and politics, although looking at their media releases they would like a much more sweeping change.
Further inside info is that O’Neill has obtained 165 million Kina (from ANZ bank ---I guess there is another mole in there) to fund his little project in Gurney.

However if there are no pilots to fly to Gurney then the plan could come apart, which would make the concerned citizens group very happy. I’m sure that they couldn’t fit enough in the Government Falcon to make it work.

A shame to see the slow demise of what was the old aviation alma mater for so many of us, but as Basil Fawlty said “all good things come to an end.” I find it sad, as my memories of the flying and the living there are all good , albeit a very long time ago now.
The current management have a lot to answer for, it is my contention they would be directly responsible for the causing the obvious "disengaged" attitude of the pilots with their treatment around their current employment contract.

Karma in action.

More Delays
 

Total chaos again today. Pilots calling in "sick". Flights cancelled, pax stuck all over the country and not able to meet international flights home etc. Total shambles!

Sausage Stuffer they got away but not on PX.

More than 80 Government MPs leave for Alotau | Loop PNG

Latest update from my sources:

Backlog of passengers is now so huge that ticket sales to the public have now been put on hold until at least Wednesday.

National pilots are still calling in sick.

Ex Fokker pilots doing DHC 8 upgrades or conversions to the Boeing fleet have been recalled from courses and SIM back to the Fokker fleet due to severely critical crewing levels.

And of course there are the few leeches who are agreeing to work on days off - and they are the usual well known culprits.

This just came in:

As of now (18:46pm) Sunday 17 July 2016, the following union representatives are meeting.

National Doctors Association President and Secretary, Air Niugini Pilots Reps, Air Niugini Engineers Reps, Maritime Union President, Energy Workers General Secretary and Legal Counsel, Mosses Murray.

NDA President announced that as of tomorrow 9am, all doctors nationwide will stand down and will operate for emergencies only pending the result of the VoNC this Friday. In the meantime, their 21-days petition will go ahead due to 2 other petitions (petitions 2&3).

Pilots and Engineers will continue their strike. Maritime workers have already slowed down their workload. Ships are filled up the wharf. Energy workers are set to join the strike.

All going well, Pilots will continue their strike and Air Niugini Pilots will not fly. A few of the flights that have been undertaken have been under the command of expatriate pilots.

About 40 National pilots will not fly starting again tomorrow onwards.

The position of the Unions was for Peter O’Neil to step down as Prime Minister and has nothing to do with the current political developments for the Vote of No Confidence.

A relative flew BNE-POM yesterday on one of the 767s and it was not full - he had 2 seats. He reckons there were only about 50 people in the POM terminal at 2.30pm. Could not get on a PX flight to Lae until early this morning but when he did there were only about 20 pax and not many people hanging around the airport there either.

40 more called in "sick" yesterday.

Been told a number of expats are about to run out of hours very very soon which will only make the situation worse, but when you are not selling tickets at least the pax numbers are decreasing.

Just imagine if the court case fails, more expats leaving and nationals as well. Could well be the beginning of the end.

Has been suggested to me that if the 4th floor started to read this forum they might find a solution to the shambles they have created.

Sounds like someone might have brought their business plan over from APNG

Foreign Correspondent,ABC Tonight @ 9:20 pm AEST for the latest on PNG Political Crisis.

The court case on the 20th was a non event. Once again the PX lawyer was a no show. The excuse - "He is stuck in Garoka and can't get out".

Pilot lawyer contacted him and he said no way would he let the junior present anything.

So a new trial date has been set - 2 August and is reportedly the FINAL hearing that defines the legal issues and statement of agreed and disputed facts.

So after that the trial proper commences unless the vote of no confidence today changes the landscape.

Just to hand-up to 15 national pilots have just been suspended. No further details as yet.

From the CEO 21/7/16 to all employees:

Dear Colleagues,

As you all know, the call for stop work commenced on Wednesday 13 July 2016. It has significantly affected Air Niugini resulting in numerous flight disruptions and cancellations, complaints from the travelling public and loss of business. By yesterday, 20 July 2016, Air Niugini has suffered the effects of the stop work for one week.

I remind you all the reason behind the call for stop work is political in nature. It is not because of any industrial dispute between Air Niugini and its employees, or any Union group. The advice from the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations is that the stop work action is illegal, as the reason for stop work is not related to any Industrial Issue between the Company and its employees, nor has any application/complaint been lodged with the Department on any Industrial Issue.

Since the stop work actions commenced, Management in Its endeavour to get the Pilots to come back to work has applied due process under its administrative and contractual arrangements. Management has also had informal meetings with certain Pilot personnel with a view to finding solutions to the matter. A formal meeting with the Pilots Air Pilots Union (NAPU) representative has also taken place. In all its efforts, Management has taken a consultative and co-operative approach to address the matter.

Despite all these challenges, Air Niugini has continued to deliver its services safely and expediously as required to the travelling public. However, Air Niugini has also incurred significant financial costs and losses. Air Niugini's image and brand has been affected resulting in loss of confidence by its customers. The relationship with our code-share partners has also been affected. This is an unfortunate and undesired situation.

Management will continue to pursue its conciliatory efforts to address the stop work with the Pilots. In this regard I strongly appeal to this group to seriously consider the effects of the stop work on Air Niugini.

I sincerely thank the majority of all staff for your support and co-operation during this difficult and trying time. I have no doubt you have all contributed enormously, to ensure our customers are served. Your efforts are very much appreciated

Was there a "call to stop work" ? I thought some pilots just went sick, as they are legally entitled (and morally obliged) to do. I hope the suspension notices are suported by Air Niugini's exposition or the pilot contracts. Otherwise the company's management may have inadvertently given NAPU a reason to lodge an industrial complaint.

I have been told by a very reliable source that the suspended pilots are still suspended without pay.

There was even one pilot who was on annual leave overseas at the time who was also issued with a suspension notice!

Pilots have been ordered to see the company doctor for "a second opinion".

This even includes a pilot who had prior approval to take his child to Oz for medical treatment to front the company doctor for a second opinion.

Also the removal of some Cairns flights from the new schedule further reduces the ability to get home on days off. Troops are not happy.

I notice that ANG are operating PX5 POM-BNE this afternoon using a F100. Wonder if it's a shortage of planes or crew?

Wonder if it had anything to do with the 737 that had an engine flame out as it was taxiing into the parking bay? Plenty of fuel on board, cause yet to be determined.

Court case was due to be heard today but for reasons not known the judge did not sit.

It has been rescheduled for Thursday this week.

However the PX lawyer approached the pilots lawyer asking for the disputed facts to be reduced. Request was denied.

The case went ahead and the Judge wanted various disputed facts moved to agreed facts and vice versa so that the case can proceed.

There is still an application by the PX lawyer to have the sitting Judge removed from the case. It has been suggested that the rearranging suggested above may have been done so that if he is removed the incoming Judge would not have to revisit old legal argument and the case wold progress as expected.

Next hearing is 9/8/16.

The judge also asked for a comprehensive list of pilots who had left the company rather than sign the new contract.

IAC global are advertising for F100 pilots.

PX did not get anyone applying to their recent advert.

Einstein says it is pretty obvious.

You have been warned, beware!

Working for PX through a Contract Company reminds me of one of Obama's lines in the 2008 Campaign.

"You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig."

7 more Nationals have just been suspended.

Also the job advert at IAC global has now been confirmed as being for a south pacific country - surprise! IFALPA and AFAP have been advised.

Expecting an update on last weeks case very soon.

Olderairhead, so another 7 "Citizens" suspended!! (w/out pay?) is that for the same offence , ie "going sick". Must be wreaking havoc with the flight schedule? Any word on flight cancellations %'s.

Yes, happened last Friday and some very senior I am told.

There is a new schedule with a lot less flights, they say due economic downturn but we all know how PX work - it is to save face because they can't crew them.

Just received this legal update.

There was no sitting, instead pilot’s Lawyer saw the Judges associate and was told the Judge would hear the Pleadings, which is the finally agreed to statement of Agreed and Disputed Facts, and “Formally Accept” them. The date for this hearing is 7th September.

The Judge will be running the trial. The application to have Judge removed is still open but in essence it means that the Judge is being asked to agree to remove himself from the case, which apparently he is not going to do.

In informal discussions the Lawyer was told the Judge wants the case finalised by December.

The Lawyer is also meeting with Department of Labour and Industrial Relations regarding the treatment of Cadets which may lead to an Industrial Dispute, depending on results of meeting.

Further update just to hand.

An industrial dispute will be registered today. 14 pilots with more to come currently suspended without pay.

Rapidly heading towards industrial action by NAPU.

Quote: "AirNiugini has gone nuts"

Maintain the Rage guys.....it all started going Pear Shaped for Air Niugini Management since 1985 when the Flying Dutchmen couldn't distinguish between Dutch Courage and Dutch Logic...so the finger in the dyke doesn't always cut the mustard......to mix a few metaphors 😜 " Simple " obviously didn't learn the lessons......Ahhhhhh Jeeeez I'm glad I'm Not in Paradise anymore. 😎

After the lodgement of the industrial dispute the Departmental Head from the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations has now become involved and ordered PX and the suspended pilots to a compulsory hearing chaired by an impartial from the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations.

That hearing will be today (22nd) and both parties, PX and suspended pilots, where the grievances will be aired and then PX will be able to respond.

Normally there is a 14 day notice period before such a hearing but given the prolonged period of suspensions and the seriousness of the matter the Departmental Head has seen fit to hasten the process, hence today's hearing.

Bottom line is a settlement must be reached.

Failing that a report will be made to the Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations and:

acting on advise,
(a) Shall, if required by the parties to the dispute, or
(b) May if he/she thinks fit,

Direct the Secretary Labour and Industrial Relations to refer the dispute to an Arbitration Tribunal for a decision and making of an Award.

Apparently no show by PX Management yesterday.

Mmmm....considering that the "Sik Out" was rumoured done in order to force the Government elected Prime Minister to step down, I wonder what direction would come the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations (who was appointed by said Prime Minister).

The axe has been sharpened, 3 more pilots were terminated today.

Update:

The reason for termination was insubordination because after calling in sick they didn't get a second medical certificate as directed by the EMFO. Rumour has it that one has already been reinstated.

Latest update is that 4 were terminated and 1 reinstated. In all 15 called in and awaiting on the outcome of the "interviews" for the remaining 10.

The suspensions without pay is now in excess of 40 days however the employment conditions, written by the company and forced upon the pilots, says this can only happen for a maximum of 30 days.

Suppose they can write the rules and break them at their pleasure, or is that Waigani pressure as suggested from those at the coal face.

Heard a rumour there might have been more multiple sackings yesterday.

I had it confirmed today that another 3 were terminated.

What's the aircraft/pilot numbers now? Are the engineers busy doing export C of A's or are they rebranding the aircraft in the hours of darkness followed by a carpark pissup at 6am..........

http://www.pngblogs.com/2015/02/png-soes-teetering-and-are-on-brink-of.html

AIR NIUGINI Ltd The 2013 audited accounts are not available on the company web site for 2013. The IPBC web site shows Air Niugini’s last completed audit was 2012.

The company is in breach of its own Act, the IPBC Act, the Companies Act, the Tax Act/Regulations, and the Audit Act.

The company’s directors are:

Frederick Reiher, chairman
James Tjoeng, deputy chairman
Noel Levi
Luke Minjikuli
Leslie Hayward
Ken Harvey
Gary Tunstall
Ian Tarutia
Evangaline Taunao, alternate director/IPBC representative
They should resign/be sacked and criminal and civil investigations should be undertaken at Air Niugini. Sir Fredrick Reiher is a crony of the Prime Minister, and a political appointee to the board and as chairman. He was involved with the Prime Minster in the public housing scam, and has a long history of dishonesty and corruption. He has been placed at Air Niugini to serve the interests of the Prime Minister and Minister Micah. It is unclear what the other directors and the senior management do to earn their money. And what is Ms Evangeline Taunao doing on the board? She is supposed to be an independent watchdog on behalf of the airline’s owner IPBC rather than be taking part in Air Niugini board decisions. She has a conflict of interest.

It is clear from the latest panic cuts to pilot pay that Air Niugini is heading for bankruptcy just like PPL.
Other publicly available information highlights the failure of the board and management.
The airline is operating at a loss of K37.8 million, or K8 million worse than in 2013. Revenue is down and costs are up and the company underspent its quarterly capital budget of K32 million by K7 million.

This is a crash waiting to happen.