Virgin Blue EBA II (Poll)

[PER210]

Avery.. Skywest has taken my brothers and his girl friends flight to Broome and back. Has there been any other routes dropped?

[avery]

Mel-Drw suspended at this stage for the month of May as well as other regular ad-hoc cancellations.

[wirgin blew]

Thought this thread needed a bump back to the front page.

Other than what the FAAA has been emailing me does anyone have any updates. Im hearing that either this month or next we should be able to have another look at the document version 2.

[Grove]

New E.B.A

Im hoping to be joining Virgin soon and would be interested to know what changes to the current E.B.A. are you and the company hoping to achieve. Good and bad!!

Thanks.

[sinala1]

Word online is that the "new" proposed eba is more or less the same as the proposal that was voted down, just with a few words changed

That said though, I will believe it when I see it

[Grove]

What are the main issues of concern?? What do the company want?? What do the crew want?? Have just had my reference cheked, really keen to join Virgin but would like to know what changes if any are in the pipeline..`

[ak3141]

What are the main issues of concern?? What do the company want?? What do the crew want?? Have just had my reference cheked, really keen to join Virgin but would like to know what changes if any are in the pipeline..

Management has said that it is operationally necessary for cabin crew to be rostered 12 hour duties. The reason behind this and why the present 9hr 45m day is insufficient (12 hrs with a 5th paxing sector) is a little obscure. Informing crew of the reason behind the necessity would assist in working through the implementation of appropriate measures that ensure 12 hour days aren't rostered repeatedly and that increased rest after such duties is guaranteed.

Under the EBA that was voted down, crew could have been rostered 5 consecutive 12hr duties with only 12 hrs rest in between before being given a day off. This is a worst case scenario but this is what crew need to be aware of in order to protect themselves from excessively long duties, tiredness and fatigue.

I would like to see more transparency in the EBA negotiation process. It seems that even as a union member, my working conditions rest on the shoulders of a small group of people who clearly didn't listen to what crew wanted the first time around

[Grove]

Thanks for the reply.. 5X12 hour days doesnt sound terribly appealing..Would that mean though you get more days off as you would complete your monthly total in a shorter time??

[smile]

Grove- its true what you sway about getting your hours done in a shorter time........but

The role of cabin crew is a VERY physically demanding role. At the moment we are exhausted after doing 4 x 9.5hour days. I know that I get very stroppy, my attention span decreases, my tolerance level decreases and all my thoughts are consumed with getting out of this red metal tube. At the end of the day I don't think that I would be any good in an emergency- you wouldn't want your familiy flying with me at the end of the day- trust me.

Just remember at Virgin Blue we don't get to pop our feet up and have a coffee for 10 minutes between flights, we get em off, clean up after em, and then get the next lot on . And to add to that we also are operating with a reduced crew complement on the 737-800's. Breaks are very few and far between.

So whilst it mey be more efficient to roster us like that, the reason we are there --SAFETY-- is flushed down the loo.

[Grove]

Smile, I agree.. 9.45 duty on the ground is not like 9.45 in the air. Lets hope it doesnt happen..
You mentioned reduced crew on B737.800, what is the story with that??
With the company expecting more out of the crew in regard duty hours and reduced crew [ where you will obviously have to work harder ] What is in it for the crew??
Also would like your or any Virgin crew advise!!!
If offered Virgin do I leave M.A.M to join Virgin..??
Is Virgin a good place to work..??
What is crew moral like..??

I know Im full of questions but my head is spinning around, really confused, dont know what to do if offered the position>>Thanks..

[737NG_Girl]

[EBA_Babylon]

Grove- VB is a great place to work. And even though the last proposed EBA was crap,the Eba issue will hopefully sort itself out soon. Us crew, (namely myself!) like to vent about issues concerning us but it doesn't mean we don't love what we do (hopefully most of us) So if you love flying and are young at heart then i say take the job if offered and make the switch to VB!

[Grove]

Thanks for your advise...I have resigned from M.A.M and starting in August... Really happy about the move..

[lemmegetback2u]

E-Jets

Welcome Grove! the uniform is not as nice but at least now you won't be working with the dinosaurs of the sky! you know the ones - requiring a zimmer frame to do the service or needing a hip replacement every time they arm their doors. We have a couple at Virgin but they are hilarious and good looking like me. Yes I know with a bit of botox and mid sky lighting there are some stunners at QF but. At least now your permanent and you can move pretty quickly if you do the right thing.

Understand where Smile is coming from though, yes we clean every turn around and sometimes you just want to throw a match to the whole thing instead of crawling around where Sharon has just left the contents of her and babies lunch. No little person vacuming around you, you need to pull out the stupid thing which doesnt actually collect anything off the floor it just dumps more. I disagree about the break thing though. I am always on a break! after doing the service which can take all of ten minutes, no more full hot meal and bar on A330 on an hour flight for 287 PAX plus call bells. There are breaks.

So sick of the EBA just leave it as is I have a mortgage I need the cash. Plus there has been so many new groups recently it wouldn't suprise me if these silly kids voted it in as has happened in the past.

Anyone applied for the E-Jet Ambssador positions? crew have any opinions or ideas on how this will work? destinations? I really would like to get some six sector Wagga - Sydney days.

I have applied though as was recently in an unplugged session and Mr Rundall however you spell it mentioned that it could be a good move if you were and E-Jet Ambassador you could also end up being one for the 777. LA here I come. Thoughts?

[vb_girl]

Join the Union.

The sad reality is that the Virgin Blue will not listen to union demands unless the vast majority of crew are members. At present membership is around 60% and the stronger our union membership is, the more likely we are to get what we want.

We all know about the conditions some of the older Qantas crew enjoy due to their historically strong union membership and unless we band together and show our support by joining the union before this next EBA is drawn up, then we are definitely not going to get what we want.

There is a reason why trainers aren't allowed to mention union membership to new inductees and why the company doesn't allow the union to enter our crew rooms to discuss membership with us.

My union membership is in and I will remain a member until the next EBA is negotiated. If you want a better bargaining position, better conditions and the company to listen to the union because it represents over 90% of Virgin Blue employees, then join the union

I've seen the membership forms on top of the drop file cabinets, grab one or visit the website to join.

[lowerlobe]

vb_girl...You are right in saying that to protect yourself you have to be part of a collective group in order to have a greater bargaining power.

Having said that after you have decided to join a union you have to be part of a union that is prepared to listen to you.

Has the S/H FAAA given you any indication that they are listening to what you did not like about your rejected EBA?

[vb_girl]

Has the S/H FAAA given you any indication that they are listening to what you did not like about your rejected EBA?

Lowerlobe, I can only hope they are listening. If union membership numbers amongst VB cabin crew were stronger during the negotiation process for this next EBA, the company may be more inclined to listen and possibly meet the demands made by the union.

If I remember correctly (please correct me if I am wrong), membership was about 60% during the last negotiation process and the document we were given was voted down by 89% of crew. With such low union membership numbers, the company is in a great position as industrial action by only 60% of crew is a much better prospect than industrial action by 90-95% of crew.

If the 89% that voted no actually joined the union for round 2, we might stand a better chance at improving our conditions. If we get a shabby EBA proposal the second time round with above 90% union membership, we can most certainly conclude that the union isn't listening or looking after it's members.

[737NG_Girl]

Originally Posted by vb_girl

If we get a shabby EBA proposal the second time round with above 90% union membership, we can most certainly conclude that the union isn't listening or looking after it's members.

My major concern was the fact that the union strongly recommended an EBA that was, at best, a complete insult - at worst, well I will let you use your imagination to come up with any number of appropriate adjectives.

Unfortunately the S/H FAAA lacks a lot of credibility & integrity amongst crew. Ask anyone who has been with VB for longer than a year or two. If they are not a member - ask them why - funnily enough you will hear the same Name and the same reasons mentioned quite frequently. Unfortunately that in itself is a double-edged sword, as the individual in question is now employed by VB working directly against the unions - so having this individual working against the FAAA, combined with reduced membership numbers because of this individual's defection from the FAAA to VB, just strengthens VB's position in the negotiations. The FAAA has a lot of integrity to re-build, and its going to take a long time to do so.

Many years ago in a previous life I heard a saying to the effect of "the best EBA's are the ones where both parties walk away feeling they got screwed". Lets hope we at least get a palatable offering this time around - and for god's sake, ditch those new work rules! As long as they are there, this EBA has much less chance of getting through. Pineapple, anyone?

[mouse78]

As EEA crew, and going through the same EBA junk, i was horrified to read that the FAAA "told" you guys to vote for it! They did the same to us! Stand your ground guys! Good luck!

Mouse

[roamingwolf]

who does the faaa represent?