Virgin Blue EBA

[sinala1]

SkyNews nothing has been announced or confirmed, so anything on here is pretty much pure speculation - we have been told we will be crewing the Embraers, but even that may change. So, to answer your question, I would imagine that no the height requirements would not change as crew will be trained on both 737 and EMB, so would need to meet the height/reach requirements for the B737

[320subria]

In light of the changed working conditions effective 1 Feb due to the reduced crew compliment, what better working conditions/penalties does the FAAA intend to negotiate on behalf of cabin crew that are over and above the current EBA negotiations, as reduced crew compliment would not have been part of initial discussions. I urge those who are members of the FAAA to email the FAAA or the associated reps to put this point forward.

[Brisvegasboy]

collapse of negotiations.....

I have heard from reliable sources that as of yesterday, negotiations between the FAAA and management have collapsed and management are NOT happy.......VERY interesting to see where things go from here.......


Flitegirl - Yes, the FAAA are negotiating on our behalf, however we just haven't received much information on the latest info for a while. Perhaps we need to hassle our reps (yes, we do have them - both in BNE and MEL!) a little more.......

[milbud]

I "TRIED" to speak to the FAAA to get info! Was quite curtly told that it wouldn't be appropriate to release content of intentions. But that they were definitely pushing our side of things...I am not impressed with the level of communication from FAAA at all. I and the membership are supposed to be driving the push with the FAAA doing the face to face negotiations. Appears to be going the same way that the Ground Crew EBA did last year! Ground crew were just suddenly told well we've done our best to get you the best deal we can and here it is, we suggest you support it... and that from my then, union!
I just wish things were more "open". Even if I don't like the content, if it is open and transparent to me I will at least feel that I can trust both the union and company management. It would certainly help to squash so much of the galley FM rumour mill.

[sinala1]

Agreed Milbud - more communications would go a long way!!!

Heard on the crewbus the other day that the company wanted us to do our training on days off However FAAA said no, so company turned around and said "ok we will reduce it from 10 days off per 28 to 9 days off per 28"

GalleyFM or not well who knows?

Clear, open, detailed communications from company and/or union would be great. Why should we not be privvy to knowing what is being presented and what is being rejected/agreed???

[SKYNEWS]

Do cabin crew that work for Virgin Blue get breaks during the flight, if yes for how long?

[adam_ant]

Like I said before - I am getting info from the FAAA on a regular basis - infact one on Fri. I feel very much in the 'loop' as I call the BNE office often - the lady that works there is very helpful about EBA issues. I know that for awhile I wasn't getting anything until I gave them my home email - the company blocks emails from the FAAA so you can't get them at work and the comapny also banned newseltters from our drop files - so short of calling, my hotmail account is how I get info.

aa

[wirgin blew]

Do cabin crew that work for Virgin Blue get breaks during the flight, if yes for how long?

Yes we supposedly are entitled to a 20 min break free from duty. Which in my mind means sitting on the tarmac/break room somewhere with no guests in sight. What management mean is 20 min on a long flight sitting in the back galley while other crew restock carts, clean & check toilets, guests use toilets, face painting, etc. Which is total bs if you ask me. These managers make sure they have a meal break during the day without answering the phone or going to get a latte.

Please encourage your CS to put in sup payment forms. I know its not much but it is eventually going to get through to someone in HQ when they do the maths at the end of the year. This whole us and them thing is going to get much worse over the course of this year. BG can wave goodbye to VB's "culture" the way things are going at his airline. First you pi$$ off the guys who fly, then you do it to the staff who have the most face to face contact of the company. If Tiger gets there stuff off the ground you are going to have a few people submitting their resumes.

Hope your all having a great weekend.

[regionalguy]

re your discussions on lack of info from the company and faaa during eba negotiations. we had the same crticisms with ours last year (voted down by the way and are due to try again) but it was explained to us at the meetings that negotiating can be a lot like playing a game of cards and to release the details of negotiations as they happen is a bit like showing your hand at the card table. perhaps not the best analogy but i got the picture.

once it was all finished we were given the eba to read and then we had meetings to have the details explained and newsletters to clarify what was being offered.

i'm sure getting the info as it happened wouldn't have made the slightest bit of difference, you've got to read the eba, ask questions and then make up your own mind. although i must admit it was frustrating not knowing what was going on.

[SKYNEWS]

Wirgin Blew thank you kindly for your answer.

[KittyBlue]

Finally the EBA has been completed, earlier today confirmation was received and the details and information will be provided to the cabin crew and associated people over the next little bit. As for what is in it, it has not be published, so it would be a great idea to read the proposed EBA first in full and to catch up with the forums that will be offered to explain the document fully.

May I stress you read the information and question the details provided so you can make an inform descision, away from those who care to use
'I heard' than factual documented information.

Toodles........

[adam_ant]

Thanks Kitty - finally! I can't wait to read it! I hope they provide lots of different times for forums so we can fit them in around our rosters.

aa xoxo

[KittyBlue]

An email has been sent out to confirm to crew the EBA is completed. Info is to be sent over the next two weeks, paper copy, dvd explanation, roadshows details will be posted directly to your residence.

[FOXPRESIDENT]

I'm flying Virgin Blue in two weeks

This thread has been really interesting as im I'm flying Virgin Blue in two weeks. 10am flight from SYD > Cairns thurs 1st march and miday return on 5th. I'm from Britain... i'l be looking forward to it.

Is it a good service the route does anyone know?

Is there any tv on board? I wanted to use my mp3 player but i don't think you can you.

[wirgin blew]

FOXPRESIDENT - you can listen to mp3 after the seat belt sign is switched off. As for TV if you are lucky you might get one of the few (3) aircraft that has live to air tv onboard ($6).

Hope you have a good time in CNS. I would recommend the Woolshed or Gilligans for a bit of night time action.

[FOXPRESIDENT]

hey thanks for this its appreciated!

I hope we get live tv that would be brilliant.

Is any crew flying on my aircraft - Its a 10am dep from Sydney and 12 noon departure from Cairns.

I'm quite interested in know about these little jokes - they should be good!

[sinala1]

We now have 7 Live2Air aircraft, with 1 being fitted out each week

[320subria]

Does anyone know about increasing the capacity on the 800 to 189seats? According to the press release today on VB's website new 800's to be delivered will have the flexibility to increase seating by 5 % to 189 seats. What will that make the seat pitch 28/29"?. I cant see those business pax who fly and pay $200/$300 o/w for a flexible fare being impressed by even less leg room. If Jetblue (a highly successfull airline and a low cost carrier at that in USA), can make money, providing low fares and has a seat pitch of 36" (only 150 seats on the A320), Virgin should take a leaf out of its book. The journey isn't only about good service, but comfort and having flown on Ryanair with 189 seats there is nothing comfortable about sitting inside their tin cans!!!

[resboy]

1:36 slowly going out the window?

I also read that press release and found the 189 seats on an -800 very interesting indeed from a Cabin Crew perspective.

Given that DJ are now able to operate the -800 with only 4 crew an extra 9 or 12 pax raises some important questions.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but CASA granted DJ the reduced crew exemption not on the basis of a 1:50 ratio (otherwise they could have gone 3 crew on the -700), but on the basis that on the -800 all 4 primary exits were still covered by crew and overwing passengers received a more detailed pre-departure briefing.

Does this exemption still hold when the aircraft has 189 pax? If you were to operate with only 4 crew on a 189 seat -800 you would effectively be TWO crew members down as under normal CASA regulations of the 1:36 ratio 6 crew would be required to operate with 189 pax. Where does one draw the line in the sand?

Very clever work on DJ's behalf perhaps? Get a special approval to operate with less crew and then subsequently increase the seating config. Is this possible!?!?

[wirgin blew]

Has anyone heard the rumour going round that 120 CC have resigned since Christmas? I have noticed less people in my drop file but it does sound like a lot of people are unhappy with the reduced crew compliment. Are they going to Emirates, MAM, Jetstar or Tiger?
Any gos would be appreciated.