Qantas London base

[Arm_Doors]

Its a shame that the current fixed term staff can't apply for the LHR base..... I'd love to go....

[hugh grant]

hi q--tee I love your enthusiasm and so feel perhaps its my turn to put my two bob's worth in

I have been a longhaul f/a flying out of SYD/MEL for 9 years
I am a member of the FAAA & attended the last meetings so know the unions point of view

however, I too have decided to take up the london base offer

I attended one of the company\'s LHR seminars and believe that this is a fair dinkum offer for australian based cabin crew to live & work overseas for 2 years
isn\'t this what the job\'s all about?
it may not suite everyone, but does that mean no one can go?
however, I am concerned that other FAAA members may view me as some sort of scab or underminer of our working conditions
I don\'t see it that way . I just want to fly out of europe and have some fun!
will the FAAA view all those who take the london base as some form of pariah?

[Arm_Doors]

Hey good for you Hugh & Q--Tee..... I think its wise to make best of the perceived bad situation.

I think perhaps we need to concentrate on ensuring the conditions are appropriate rather than attacking those who want to go.

Good luck with it - let us know how it goes!

[Left2primary]

qtee,

welcome back.
I'm sure that I dont just speak for myself in saying that your narcism hasn't been missed much around here.

230 "expressions of interest" eh?
I wonder how many of those will "choke" when it comes time to sign on the dotted line.

As I have mentioned before, poverty in Nothern Europe isn't going to be much fun.............

Kensington, eh.....?
Not on the salary QF are going to pay you.
The last time I looked, a bedsit in that part of the world was going to set you back 350 GBP a week.

Maybe you are planning to set up a cardboard box next to our friend who camps outside Waitrose ????

Oh hang on, thats right. We all know about your financial situation, dont we.

You obviously have a direct plug in to QCC4/5.
Any truth to the rumour that the EX FAAA executive "Shayne Harris" aka "Lance Neelon" is responsible for the LHR base implementation?

"Rubber stamping" any one who applies for CSS/CSM positions?
That'll do wonders for customer service/satisfaction. But I guess nothing must get in the way of senior executive bonuses.

Have a great "advencha" qtee, but try for a moment to spare a thought for the HUNDREDS of young and eager Australians who will be denied the same opportunity/dream you were offered, all those years ago.

L2P "S.T.R."

-------------------------------------------------------------

arm doors,

fixed term contractors like yourself will in all likelyhood be disposed of in favour of cheaper UK nationals.
Please wake up and smell the coffee.

L2P "S.T.R."

[galley_gossiper]

hugh grant

I wouldnt worry about the FAAA making those that go to Lhr pariahs.I dare say when those who go to Lhr get back, the FAAA will have a very different leadership and direction.I think that if the proposed strike goes ahead,the next crew who are voted into the FAAA will be focussing more on damage control than worrying about who is coming back from Lhr. I stick by my opinion, if we go the hard 'strike' line,we will lose all of our flying bar the 747 which doesnt leave much flying for longhaul.We need to be securing the double-decker airbus for us,and securing the A330 international for us, not striking over a base in Lhr. It seems (by the memos from Ms Grant) the company is willing to offer those things,but the current FAAA execs have walked out.
Oh and L2P, no me and pucci dreaming arent the same person as you seem to have suggested, I have no personal issue with the current FAAA leaders, just the direction they are going in. If you read back on both our posts you will see a very different approach.

And good luck Q--tee, have fun there. I think if the opportunity suits you then it will be a great expereince! I am beginning to wish i could go

[ferris]

L2P. If I can offer some (probably unwanted) advice. I can understand your bitterness, but showing it on a daily basis isn't going to help your cause. There has to be a balance in trying to persuade people- highlight the negatives, sure, but try and induce people rather than scare them.
Hugh:

I am concerned that other FAAA members may view me as some sort of scab or underminer of our working conditions I don\'t see it that way . I just want to fly out of europe and have some fun!

Then why not move there and join a European carrier? That way, you can live in Europe and not help destroy yet another set of working conditions for Australians. When you get back from LHR in 2 years, will the job be worth returning to? What flying will be left, if your level of self-interest is displayed by all?
Arm Doors;

I think perhaps we need to concentrate on ensuring the conditions are appropriate rather than attacking those who want to go.

I think that some people are losing sight of the fact that this is a money saving activity. Why not send QF staff on equivalent conditions to, say, same-seniority BA staff? Because they can get a small number of the pie-eyed types who "just want to work in Europe without taking a risk", then hire some new people (Brits) who "just want to fly" for peanuts to fill the gap. It is an attack on your working conditions , pure and simple. How, exactly, can you bargain effectively? If the base went ahead on, say, BA terms and conditions, it simply wouldn't be viable for QF to do it. The only way it will go ahead is if it saves QF money. That means losing T&Cs, no matter how you cut it. There is no 'middle ground'.

This is a gem, from galley_gossip;

We need to be securing the double-decker airbus for us,and securing the A330 international for us, not striking over a base in Lhr. It seems (by the memos from Ms Grant) the company is willing to offer those things

So, long haul F/As need to bargain away T&Cs, to ensure that long haul flying is performed by long haul F/As?
Shouldn't your position be something like.....
If the company wants to take any action to increase productivity (such as re-arranging who does what flying), then we need to share in the rewards (and be granted some security)? Why do F/As need to go cap-in-hand just to keep what they have?

QF is making record profits . Mr. Dixon made six and one-half MILLION DOLLARS last year. I'd be asking different questions, if I was you. Like; where's mine?

[galley_gossiper]

ferris ..... from the UAE I am sure all seems simple to you, considering you arent here seeing what QF is threatening (have already done) if we dont 'play ball' to a certain extent.

They have taken away our international flying from us with the A330, they can do the same with the 767.
They have stated that there is no agreement as to who will fly the A380 - they have made that clear too. It is common knowledge that it is cheaper to have short haul crew operate international sectors.
To focus a campaign on something like the Lhr base which is happening - and nothing will stop is daft, we should be focussing on trying to get assurances on things that might happen eg - forgoing the Lhr base fight in order to secure international routes for international crew - not fighting a lost cause!
Why do we have to go 'cap in hand to keep' what we have? Well we DONT have it anymore, the A330 international routes have gone to domestic, the A380 could just as easily go to domestic - Keep what we already have???? we have already lost it. We should be there trying to get it back !! Not focussing on (or putting down) crew who wish to go to Lhr for a couple of years. Nor fighting a base that is reality. We strike, we lose everything - the whole longhaul divsion will be nothing but a small percentage of crew operating only the B747. Again my opinion, but you seem to think we are begging for what we have, we have already lost it.

[surfside6]

A Coin has 2 sides

Have you ever considered that perhaps shorthaul doesn`t want international flying?.The reason most people are in shorthaul is because that is the type of family friendly flying they prefer to do.Playford and Watkins have been mentioned on previous threads/posts.They are leading shorthaul crew down the wrong path.QF is hacking away at the conditions of BOTH Divisions.I am enormously surprised that we are not hearing more from outraged shorthaul people.Who wants to spend 17 hours on an Aircraft(A380)with 600 people?What an absolutely appauling thought!

[OZOS]

OK, guess I am too tired to read all the previous postins on this topic. I am really interested though! Can someone please give a brief outline of what is going on here? I am an Australian working in the UK, for a UK airline, but would be interested in working for Qantas. Don't want to be thought of as a scab (have many pals working QF - not in regular contact). Would like to see what the options are.

Any brief info greatly appreciated by jetlagged individual keep to see familty more often.

Cheers.

[hugh grant]

you see, this is what interests me about the London Base offer.
EVERY single long haul crew member I have spoken to has "done the numbers" to see if its right for them
obviously lots of late night discussions with partners as to "do you want to move to london? can we afford it? what is the salary if you take the upgrade?"

L2P states, "The last time I looked, a bedsit in that part of the world was going to set you back 350 GBP a week"

with this sought of research, it is obvious
-LRP WAS / IS CONSIDERING -GOING TO LONDON!

to realise that London is not right for you is fair enough, but to then jump up & down and scream about job security and conditions is very hypocritical.

if any one of the FAAA members who are now vehemently opposed to the LHR base going ahead -and yet when it was announced , quickly did the sums, crunched the numbers as to what it would cost to rent in LHR ,what the GBP salary converted to in Aust dollars, what the schools were like - if they contemplated the offer, even for a moment, and now they are yelling "Worker Solidarity", well, they should have a real good look at their principles and again look up the dictionary meaning of the word 'hypocrite".

L2P, good luck in London! see you there!

[sima]

another blow

And yet another blow to Qantas mainline with Australian Airlines taking the Perth - Denpassar run off us. As of next month that is another sector lost...never to be seen again.
Regardless if you are short or long haul crew it sucks to lose a flying pattern.
Dont recall hearing anything from the FAAA about losing this sector.

[Left2primary]

hughgrant,

thanks very much for taking the trouble of telling myself and others just what I have contemplated.

You are of course, once again , dead wrong.

I have spent the majority of my flying career operating on the Kangaroo route.

It doesnt take too much of your so called "research" to look in a real estate agents window whilst wondering up to Kensington High st.

Ever stood in line at the post office on Gloucester Rd ?
Oh, thats right. Its a little difficult to, from a cubicle at QCC.

Well let me tell you, if you had, you would know that the walls are covered in "to Let" notices.

Hypocacy, me?..........get a life.
"The Spirit Of Australia" already owns the patent on that.
Geoff got it in a package deal with Peter Allen's song.

You are representing on this thread the operations of what must presently be the greediest and most morally and ethically bankrupt company operating in Australia.

Congratualations. How does it feel?

L2P "S.T.R."

BTW The murmurings out there indicate Geoff Dixons day of reckoning is FAST approaching.

Its obvious to all that you are having great difficulting obtaining scabs in the numbers you need.

It might not be too late to strike a deal with the FAAA but you and your lot will have to be quick.

[argusmoon]

Simple Minds?

Hugh Grant is to be applauded!
His approach to life and its decisions is breathtaking in its simplicity......Never research an opposing point of view,assuming of course,you have a point of view to begin with.While the rest of us have to "crunch the numbers"HG either doesn`t bother or doesn`t have to,using either clairvoyance or a oiuja board.
I guess the surname (Grant) says it all.No doubt this is how all members of the Grant Family make decisions......Lesley no doubt used this tried and true process while doing such a sterling job of running Air NZ into the ground.
Truly Simple Minds!!!

[sima]

Bitter

L2P,

You seriously need to chill out abit if you want people to support what you are saying.
eg....
"You are representing on this thread the operations of what must presently be the greediest and most morally and ethically bankrupt company operating in Australia."

And so are you everytime you put your uniform on and go to work! YOU represent the company as well.

I am wondering....if this whole EBA and LHR base and everything else goes ahead as the company is trying to do, will you L2P stick around or will you pack up your bags and leave the company.

I mean, how can you stay and work for a company that you feel so strongly against their morals and ethics??
And for gods sake...before you say it, i am not a QCC cubicle sitter!! I fly.

[q--tee]

L2P

You are an angry little person aren't you? Valium works wonders You again and again state anyone who offers differing opinions to you must be in a cubicle at QCC ---- there must be a hell of a lot of cubicles up there! You also objected when someone in the past suggested you are on the union? Well it sounds more and more like you are an FAAA leader

I dont think you should be that concerned with the number of strike breakers QF has ready, I arent even aware of strike breakers. I would be more concerned with the amount of current crew who will actually strike over the LHR base when it comes to the crunch! I have yet to come accross one, and apart from some recent glorious leave, I have beeen flying a bit lately!

Those of us going to LHR cant wait ! Oh and ferris, there are a lot of people like myself who are far (far,far,far) too old to get a working visa in the UK -- this is a great opportunity to live and work there with gurenteed employment when we get there, and a job waiting when we get back! Why would people pass up that opportunity? Before i get bleating about how 'selfish' that attitude may seem to some -- we each have to do things that suit us in life.

[Butterfield8]

QTEE...Where were you..?

Q..tee
Where were you 1981 and 1988?No doubt parading self interest and telling everyone within earshot how noble you were in doing so...As was then,as is now.
This base is the thin edge of the wedge...Where next will they set up a base?All the people who have been doing back to back LHR`s for years.....for the standown time ,because this is all that was available and who have therefore built their lives around these patterns,now have their lives enormously disrupted.
Presumably you don`t have a dog,a cat, a canary or a family
so such a move concerns you little.
While you were on leave so too was self centred indifference.Any chance you have more vacation coming up so the rest of us can have a break from your egocentric nonsense?

[q--tee]

Butterfield, darling

you say I am parading self interest .... yet bleat on about those being upset as they are losing standown time ..... would that not be them moaning because of self interest ie what THEY stand to lose?

You see pumpkin, you are using one group of crew's self interest as an excuse to accuse another group of crew of being nothing but self-interested! now how do you spell Hypocrite??

Yes I was around in '81 and '88, and there with everyone else.

This situation (ie the LHR base) is a great opportunity for me and the others who wish to go.

And while we are talking about focussing on other's self-interests --- you seem to think I care not whether this will affect those who chose not to go to LHR. Well ask yourself this, if there was a remote chance that the LHR base didnt go ahead, do you think those crew not wanting the base to happen will be concerned about those of us who wanted to go?

Please dont lecture me about being self absorbed, when complaining about loss of stand down etc is just focussing on another side's self-interest.

Now where's my tube map?

[Butterfield8]

Qualify...Q..Tee

Q...Teee
I talk of a MAJORITY and their interests,not a MINORITY(spelt QTEE)and their interests.45 individuals from longhaul is about 1%,the rest being made up of shorthaul from Melbourne.
In your two years O.S, because you are such a stout Cabin Crew member, you won`t be abusing or using any of your miniscule sick leave so you can be home to see those westend shows.(Will You?)At the end of two years bouncing across large time zone changes we would all expect that sick leave will be minimal as will lost time through injury and fatigue.(in the LHR Base)

[flyblue]

Please, use the ACCOMMODATION Thread to post about accommodation and such.
Hugh Grant your post has been moved there.

[pucci dreaming]

Now why wouldn't the FAAA management team really want a London base??
$624 a year in FAAA union fees multiplied by 480 crew going to London
Hmmmmm....where's my calculator?
.... $299 520
say no more....