Well, that aged well.

I'm hearing noises that the recruitment team is a little understaffed (ie one person) so things are taking a while to process at the moment. Has anyone from the pre-COVID hold file been called up yet?

I'm wondering that, too. Anyone been given a start date?

What happened last time?

Well let’s see. Qantas got a small taste of what pilots stopping work will cost them. $40 million and change for a couple of 4 hour stop works according to the CEO’s email. JQ pilots actually realised how key they are in their whole operation, and their true value.

If you remember, we at Qantas SH voted no to a 3% rollover deal in 2019. As ‘punishment’ for voting NO, Qantas stated they wouldn’t re-enter negotiations with us until Easter 2020.

Concerned with having JQ, QFSH, QFLH, EAA, SSA, NWK and EFA all with open agreements, and a pilot group over at JQ that understood and had experienced first hand that withdrawal of labour is a legally enshrined right, Qantas went back to the cupboard and ‘found’ extra cash to close our deal.

The risk of not doing so was the JQ pilots demonstrating what a unified pilot group could achieve, and contagion. Qantas needed to close a deal, and close it fast.

In a stunning resuscitation of negotiations, Qantas found 5 extra days sick leave, Extra Blank Days, a credit protection system, and DTA linked to ATO adjustments among other things.

Do you think Qantas would have come back to SH and showered us with gifts to close a deal if the JQ boys hadn’t rattled the cage?

Anyhow, it’s probably lucky we got those improvements. Because this time around there is no JQ pilots rattling the PIA cage YET. I can’t imagine they’d be happy with their substandard conditions for much longer.

I only wish we had the balls to take on some of the bullies running this place. Instead we are turning ourselves into industrial eunuchs by giving up hard earned conditions for nothing in return. Sorry, securing 20 REPLACEMENT aircraft, not growth. REPLACING existing aircraft with something far more capable. As if they have any other realistic plan to crew our replacement aircraft.

Big news coming this week. Good luck for those waiting for a start.

MCD

Good news ? 🙈

Cesspool thanks for the summary of what happened at Qantas and as I recall SH got its EBA with the payrise just before Covid standowns so well done to the union representing Qantas pilots. I don't recall any discussion by those being represented by the other pilots union that Qantas SH were benefiting from JQ PIA. All they were talking about was how they were going to stick it up JQ and that management would be so shocked that they would sign a deal that included reserve blocks of standby and a payrise greater than the 3% on offer. My question was rhetorical because I know the answer-nothing happened!

The whole house of cards collapsed because rather than being frightened JQ, raised the stakes and threatened to stand down for 7 days any pilot who didn't sign on for their rostered duty for the weekend that the PIA was supposed to occur. The PIA was for a small group of pilots who were rostered to fly on a weekend in December to not show up for work. Where is the unity in that? The few (understandably) were not going to take the hit for the many. As a strategy it was rubbish. Jetstar pilots were not even given the opportunity to vote on any EBA proposal. The option of voting no should have been the first step. Instead a bunch of industrial cowboys thought that they would ride into town, shoot the bar up and ride out again with everyone left wondering what just happened. Good for the ego but achieved nothing and we are still left without a payrise. To make matters worse the payrise on offer now is 2%. There is a big misunderstanding amongst the pilot hot heads about what is legally achievable under the current industrial system.

This article spells it out quite well as to how and why we are in the position we are in now.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-...oday/101144570

There is NO negotiation with the Qantas Group, they have published the wage policy and that is what will be in the contract. If you want to go to PIA to get anything above that then good luck.

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Whilst I agree with you, from what I'm told (live with a JQ'er and I know plenty) there is absolute hatred for the company and zero engagement from anyone on the line. Hugh amount of sick leave with terrible paintings etc. (Don't know anything about the 788 side). If the company doesn't offer something and make an effort to rebuild the relationship with their staff, sounds like PIA will happen. it's just a matter of when. Good luck to them. We all need everyone to be strong and say no to the ridiculous state of affairs across the Australian industry at the moment. Shouldn't matter whether we are VA, JQ, QF NJS etc.

I agree, if it goes PIA then I hope I am wrong and Jetstar backs down and offers some real improvement. I have never seen it work though.

And this is the biggest con going around - the QF wages policy, a blanket approach to all the different businesses that make up the group.

It’s a way to hold back pay increases when times are good, and make sure that the pain of bad times keeps continuing on, even as demand is now above pre COVID levels.

Good on JQ - and any other pilot group - that gives AJ the bird to the QF wages policy.

JQ pilots deserve fair and reasonable outcome to their EA - and that doesn’t include more pay freezes.

As do the EFA pilots - who were as busy (and their business as profitable) as every over the last few years.

And following on from this - we haven’t really seen a QF pilot group take serious industrial action - and I mean stop works etc, not wearing red ties and making PAs.

It’s a shame the way JQ pilots actions ended up last year - COVID really snookered them. But we now have an airline that’s expanding, recruiting and a very angry pilot group.

I am with you Ollie - I hope they get a fair and reasonable deal, and that any further progress isn’t interrupted by another hiccup in the economy!

If the point of PIA is to get results that include a payrise then I would say the QF pilots are playing the game very well. The problem as demonstrated by some of these posts is that the JQ pilots are being led by some who don't understand the way the game is played. Just to restate, QF pilots got their EBA through before Covid and the JQ pilots did not.

PIA didn’t work for JQ in 2019, in fact JQ didn’t bat an eye lid just canceled a few flights, moved some ppl around and lost 60million.

Lookleft, thats pretty close to the truth.

Im not sure that I would summarise the JQ pilot group as being " led " by people. The AFAP is utterly on the nose these days and have been a pathetic advocate for the JQ pilot group over the years. See current conditions!.

Aipa is still a relative unknown and distrusted. See current conditions!.

Both unions have been either unable or unwilling to advance the Jq pilots lot. This despite taking union fees. See current conditions!

The fact is that a lack of unity within the group (A320 vs 787), fostered by a constant and relentless beating down by nearly everybody has contributed significantly to the current state of play. This unfortunately works in the companies favour.

This time however, I feel things will be different with the " negotiations". The pilot group simply have nothing more to give. With wages so far behind the rest of the industry and an anger amongst pilots that runs deeper than ever I see the only option being a trip to the Fair Work commission.

I dont think it really matters what both unions come up with. Given the current state of play for JQ pilots, it simply wont be enough. See current conditions!!!.

MCD

Your summary is hits the nail on the head MCD with the phrase "both unions". The only people who benefit in having the pilots represented by two unions are JQ management. All they have to do is issue feel good statements that they have been in "negotiations" with union(insert acronym of choice) and the lack of progress continues.

This………………

can you ellaborate on this please

There's no news, this person just wanted a reaction.

How long must one generally wait until after being interviewed to find out if they were successful or not?

Actually the news is a continued recruitment drive for the near future.

Good news for those waiting in the wings.

Not after a reaction, just busy with real life!!.

Id expect news after interviewing within a fortnight.

MCD