QANTAS - Australia IV
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Midnight,
The difference between Australian and British LAw is that after a ballot striking is legal in th UK. And any damages sustained by the airline are the leverage that the union has.
In Australian industrial action including strikes is illegal and not only can the union be sued for the damages but individual flight attendants that participate in any action.
I dont know about you Midnight but i dont fancy losing my home and i dont think any other flight attendant wants to be bankrupted by Qantas either.
If Qantas workers could take industrial action legally i would imagine that the engineers and pilots and ASU that just lost a lot of IT workers to India would be taking action now too.
.
Most of the Long HAul crew that not only talk the talk but are prepared to walk the walk ( in terms of Industrial Action) have taken packages over the last 3-4 years.
The old guard that have some fire in the belly are no longer with us. Industrial action has a place but only when negitiating an EBA and now after secret ballots have taken place.
The process would take months and qantas would be well equipped to deal with it.
I yearn for the days when we could say if something isnt fixed by 6pm we are going to stop the Narita flight.
The difference between Australian and British LAw is that after a ballot striking is legal in th UK. And any damages sustained by the airline are the leverage that the union has.
In Australian industrial action including strikes is illegal and not only can the union be sued for the damages but individual flight attendants that participate in any action.
I dont know about you Midnight but i dont fancy losing my home and i dont think any other flight attendant wants to be bankrupted by Qantas either.
If Qantas workers could take industrial action legally i would imagine that the engineers and pilots and ASU that just lost a lot of IT workers to India would be taking action now too.
.
Most of the Long HAul crew that not only talk the talk but are prepared to walk the walk ( in terms of Industrial Action) have taken packages over the last 3-4 years.
The old guard that have some fire in the belly are no longer with us. Industrial action has a place but only when negitiating an EBA and now after secret ballots have taken place.
The process would take months and qantas would be well equipped to deal with it.
I yearn for the days when we could say if something isnt fixed by 6pm we are going to stop the Narita flight.
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Midnight the reality is that the howard goverment is doing its best to neuter the union movement in the country by severly restricting the ways that they can operate.
Every day the unions are able to act on behalf of their members and enforce agreements and stop the company acting unilaterally.
For example reaching a compromise on the FRA allowance issue. Without the unions not just FAAA there would be nowhere at all to turn.
I am reliably informed that there are currently 6 crew held out of service facing termination for various infractions. without the FAAA defending its members the company would turn that into 50 in the blink of an eye.
Without someone standing up even in a reduced capacity because of the law and the environment then I am afraid there would be nothing stopping Qantas Management.
Every day the unions are able to act on behalf of their members and enforce agreements and stop the company acting unilaterally.
For example reaching a compromise on the FRA allowance issue. Without the unions not just FAAA there would be nowhere at all to turn.
I am reliably informed that there are currently 6 crew held out of service facing termination for various infractions. without the FAAA defending its members the company would turn that into 50 in the blink of an eye.
Without someone standing up even in a reduced capacity because of the law and the environment then I am afraid there would be nothing stopping Qantas Management.
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I don't agree regarding services to Japan. JAL have their own off shoot, JAA, or better known from the sides of their plane as "Resor Cha", they are painted with flowers all over the side and tail. I was in Brisbane recently and there were 2 747-200's parked there and in Sydney I have seen a 200 and a 300. I have never seen a "Resor Cha" 400. These aircraft are operated by JAL with Thai cabin crew and fly to holiday destinations around the world. Japanese know what they are getting, they know what they are paying for, they know JAA is an off shoot of JAL. If the price is right they will fly. JAA is a subsiduary of JAL. Japanese will fly with low cost carriers. Maybe not all but there is a market.
Join Date: Jan 2005
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The 300 is a relic and that is my point and as we need more aircraft we shouldn’t be giving them away to other carriers.This puts us in a position where we are forced to use aircraft that should be in Longreach.
The possibility about taking aircraft off the LAX run was never mentioned by me
The distance from SYD to NRT is less than SYD to LAX and therefore IF you think about it a 400 could not do a LAX return in the same time as it does a NRT return
There's more to shuffling paper than there is to chucking food and trundling trollies. It really is time that Lowerlobe stuck to the very very limited, narrow field in which he may be "expert".
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BA Lert
‘These aircraft operate Sydney/Tokyo overnight, sit all day on the ground in Tokyo and then operate overnight Tokyo/Sydney. Utilisation is very low.’
Most of the aircraft that fly to LA also spend all day on the ground before returning to Australia. The staggering ignorance in your posts is amusing if not now tiresome.
‘These aircraft operate Sydney/Tokyo overnight, sit all day on the ground in Tokyo and then operate overnight Tokyo/Sydney. Utilisation is very low.’
Most of the aircraft that fly to LA also spend all day on the ground before returning to Australia. The staggering ignorance in your posts is amusing if not now tiresome.
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Have you seen the Muffin Man?
Have been away for a few days and just read Lowerlobes radio interview ...........absolute classic mate 
You've missed your calling as a comedian but I see it just went over the top of some of the heads on here and is still heading south. PS. pm me mate my mum has a great muffin recipe!!
Some buffoon here wrote that the last JFKs that they'd done were a walk in the park. No fifteen hour plus day is a walk in the park whether it be full or
half full. Unless of course you're one of the increasing number of young bludgers not pulling their weight onboard because they were out partying the night before or just plain slacking off.
IFE......still a bloody disaster. Will have to get my trousers repaired as I spent a great deal of time on my knees fiddling under the seats doing a hard reset. No filthy remarks thanks
Yes I know QF management it's just a teething problem.
743s on the NRTs.......have seen that the 707 is back at Mascot apparently it's a back up in case the 743s fall over which is liable to happen or maybe to replace the Flying Junior Croissant which also seem to have recent maintenance problems. Oh well nothing a good banana muffin can't fix.
Any truth in the rumour that Ms. Robertson has been employed by Virgin?
You've missed your calling as a comedian but I see it just went over the top of some of the heads on here and is still heading south. PS. pm me mate my mum has a great muffin recipe!!Some buffoon here wrote that the last JFKs that they'd done were a walk in the park. No fifteen hour plus day is a walk in the park whether it be full or
half full. Unless of course you're one of the increasing number of young bludgers not pulling their weight onboard because they were out partying the night before or just plain slacking off.IFE......still a bloody disaster. Will have to get my trousers repaired as I spent a great deal of time on my knees fiddling under the seats doing a hard reset. No filthy remarks thanks
Yes I know QF management it's just a teething problem.743s on the NRTs.......have seen that the 707 is back at Mascot apparently it's a back up in case the 743s fall over which is liable to happen or maybe to replace the Flying Junior Croissant which also seem to have recent maintenance problems. Oh well nothing a good banana muffin can't fix.
Any truth in the rumour that Ms. Robertson has been employed by Virgin?
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qantas tart
The tart also is an ex NSW copper. Sounds like she has alot in common with Kim Hollingsworth. Both nutters. May be they can set a knocking shop up together. Pity about the damage to everyone else in the airline industry. Ashamed to be Australian
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what damage has been done?
i dont think this issue should make you feel ashamed to be an aussie, there are a lot worse things that have been done. Things our government has done etc etc
i wish crew would stop talking about it, who cares. Its her business.
And the people that are turning this issue around, and into their issue! oh please grow up!
i dont think this issue should make you feel ashamed to be an aussie, there are a lot worse things that have been done. Things our government has done etc etc
i wish crew would stop talking about it, who cares. Its her business.
And the people that are turning this issue around, and into their issue! oh please grow up!
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Mamslave - "It's her business" --you have got to be joking!!!! Her actions and public spruiking of them for cash has demeaned and belittled the job of Flight Attendents everywhere
My female friends with Q.F are absolutely cringing at every steroetyped barb and response in the press and from the punters lately after this airhead's escapades.
Once she took it public it no longer was her business and she deserves all the negative responses on this forum she gets.
And believe me , being an ex copper in no way enhances her credibility at all. I know a few of ex coppers who are now the most dysfunctional people I know.
There is plenty NQR about Lisa.
My female friends with Q.F are absolutely cringing at every steroetyped barb and response in the press and from the punters lately after this airhead's escapades.
Once she took it public it no longer was her business and she deserves all the negative responses on this forum she gets.
And believe me , being an ex copper in no way enhances her credibility at all. I know a few of ex coppers who are now the most dysfunctional people I know.
There is plenty NQR about Lisa.
Last edited by priapism; 20th Feb 2007 at 09:44. Reason: punctuation
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$91m in payouts to 'old' Qantas executives
Stuart Washington
February 21, 2007
QANTAS executives will receive a $91 million payout, including $8 million for chief executive Geoff Dixon on their last day of employment with the "old" airline if the takeover goes ahead.
And they will get the payout, for shares worth millions of dollars, even when they have not met all the performance hurdles.
The payouts are on top of lucrative cash and share incentives they will get from the would-be owners of the "new" Qantas, including bonuses of up to 200 per cent of their cash salaries, a stake in the new company of up to 4.5 per cent, and a performance fee for Mr Dixon as high as $60 million.
The executives will get a golden handshake on their way out one day; the next day, working in the same roles, they will be richly rewarded on their way in.
But there could be a hitch. The generous payments will go ahead only if the $11.1 billion private equity bid by the Airline Partners Australia consortium succeeds.
There is growing uncertainty about the deal among federal MPs and financial markets. Prospects of a takeover have also been thrown into doubt by reluctant fund managers who are considering whether to reject the offer.
The payment to executives occurs because of "change of ownership" provisions in the managers' existing contracts, and the necessity for new owners to acquire all the outstanding shares of the company. But in a little-advertised fact about takeovers, managers' options for shares are being paid out in full, even when they have not met their performance hurdles.
GPS72
Stuart Washington
February 21, 2007
QANTAS executives will receive a $91 million payout, including $8 million for chief executive Geoff Dixon on their last day of employment with the "old" airline if the takeover goes ahead.
And they will get the payout, for shares worth millions of dollars, even when they have not met all the performance hurdles.
The payouts are on top of lucrative cash and share incentives they will get from the would-be owners of the "new" Qantas, including bonuses of up to 200 per cent of their cash salaries, a stake in the new company of up to 4.5 per cent, and a performance fee for Mr Dixon as high as $60 million.
The executives will get a golden handshake on their way out one day; the next day, working in the same roles, they will be richly rewarded on their way in.
But there could be a hitch. The generous payments will go ahead only if the $11.1 billion private equity bid by the Airline Partners Australia consortium succeeds.
There is growing uncertainty about the deal among federal MPs and financial markets. Prospects of a takeover have also been thrown into doubt by reluctant fund managers who are considering whether to reject the offer.
The payment to executives occurs because of "change of ownership" provisions in the managers' existing contracts, and the necessity for new owners to acquire all the outstanding shares of the company. But in a little-advertised fact about takeovers, managers' options for shares are being paid out in full, even when they have not met their performance hurdles.
GPS72
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rumour # 268192085
Shorthaul crew will be trained on the 747-300 by the end of 2007.
Apparently the cap of amount of aircraft you can be EP's certified on can be more than 3.
Just heard it through the grapevine.... the grape was growing on a CASA inspector tree.......
Shorthaul crew will be trained on the 747-300 by the end of 2007.
Apparently the cap of amount of aircraft you can be EP's certified on can be more than 3.
Just heard it through the grapevine.... the grape was growing on a CASA inspector tree.......
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Flight attendant v Fiennes v Qantas: a lesson in our labour laws?
Date: Thursday, 15 February 2007
Thomas Hunter writes:
If Qantas stewardess Lisa Robertson thought interest in her encounter with actor Ralph Fiennes was waning, she’s in for a surprise when she picks up today’s Daily Telegraph - it carries her photo and comments from her father in the presumptuously-titled “Ralph’s Mile High Hostie”.
“Lisa just does her job and if someone wants a cup of coffee and biscuits, she looks after them,” Dad told the Tele. “She's not a bad-looking girl. If you do the right thing people take a liking to you.”
Despite the same newspaper publishing a statement in which Robertson claimed she was innocent of any amorous wrong-doing, the Tele’s coverage wink-winks and nudge-nudges at the salacious undertones of the story. It also completely fails to raise the issue of Robertson's treatment by Qantas and her employer – fair, unfair, or otherwise.
Barely had the wheels touched back down in Australia before Robertson was stood down without pay pending the outcome of an investigation. According to the Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia (FAAA), strict procedures are in place to handle such incidents. It appears those guidelines have been adhered to.
But while the rules might have been followed, Robertson’s case raises questions about the balance of power in employee-employer relations in Australia, fairness of treatment at work, and more basically, the presumption of innocence.
Robertson is employed by Morris Alexander Management (MAM), a recruitment company specialising in airline industry staff. Despite her pay cheque coming from MAM, Robertson was recruited and trained by Qantas to their standards and for their planes, yet the company will only employ her on a casual basis.
A spokesman from the FAAA told Crikey that approximately one third of the Qantas workforce is casual, an arrangement which confers significant benefits on the airline. Casual staff receive no long service leave from the airline, they have no entitlement to the Qantas superannuation scheme or sick leave. Further, Qantas’s casual staff operate under a significantly lower wage structure which isn’t indexed over years of service as it is for full-time Qantas staff. (Qantas was contacted for comment but didn't respond prior to publication.)
Those conditions are not unique to Qantas or the airline industry: they’re a reality for most casual employees. But as the FAAA points out, if Robertson was a Qantas employee, there would be a greater financial imperative to resolve the issue quickly. That urgency doesn’t exist with casual staff, with many resorting to Centrelink payments during periods of unemployment. The FAAA also says this case illustrates why Qantas is eager to base full-time staff in countries like Thailand where the labour laws are more generous to employers.
While this arm’s length employment arrangement contravenes no laws, Robertson's case raises other questions, especially with the private equiteers circling the tower waiting for approval to land.
With the profit motive poised to hit the booster rockets, how real is the threat posed to Qantas's Australian workforce by cheaper, easier-to-manage overseas and casual staff? And do the current labour laws give casual workers enough protection in the case of, say, an unwanted mid-flight moment with a Hollywood heart throb?
Thomas Hunter writes:
If Qantas stewardess Lisa Robertson thought interest in her encounter with actor Ralph Fiennes was waning, she’s in for a surprise when she picks up today’s Daily Telegraph - it carries her photo and comments from her father in the presumptuously-titled “Ralph’s Mile High Hostie”.
“Lisa just does her job and if someone wants a cup of coffee and biscuits, she looks after them,” Dad told the Tele. “She's not a bad-looking girl. If you do the right thing people take a liking to you.”
Despite the same newspaper publishing a statement in which Robertson claimed she was innocent of any amorous wrong-doing, the Tele’s coverage wink-winks and nudge-nudges at the salacious undertones of the story. It also completely fails to raise the issue of Robertson's treatment by Qantas and her employer – fair, unfair, or otherwise.
Barely had the wheels touched back down in Australia before Robertson was stood down without pay pending the outcome of an investigation. According to the Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia (FAAA), strict procedures are in place to handle such incidents. It appears those guidelines have been adhered to.
But while the rules might have been followed, Robertson’s case raises questions about the balance of power in employee-employer relations in Australia, fairness of treatment at work, and more basically, the presumption of innocence.
Robertson is employed by Morris Alexander Management (MAM), a recruitment company specialising in airline industry staff. Despite her pay cheque coming from MAM, Robertson was recruited and trained by Qantas to their standards and for their planes, yet the company will only employ her on a casual basis.
A spokesman from the FAAA told Crikey that approximately one third of the Qantas workforce is casual, an arrangement which confers significant benefits on the airline. Casual staff receive no long service leave from the airline, they have no entitlement to the Qantas superannuation scheme or sick leave. Further, Qantas’s casual staff operate under a significantly lower wage structure which isn’t indexed over years of service as it is for full-time Qantas staff. (Qantas was contacted for comment but didn't respond prior to publication.)
Those conditions are not unique to Qantas or the airline industry: they’re a reality for most casual employees. But as the FAAA points out, if Robertson was a Qantas employee, there would be a greater financial imperative to resolve the issue quickly. That urgency doesn’t exist with casual staff, with many resorting to Centrelink payments during periods of unemployment. The FAAA also says this case illustrates why Qantas is eager to base full-time staff in countries like Thailand where the labour laws are more generous to employers.
While this arm’s length employment arrangement contravenes no laws, Robertson's case raises other questions, especially with the private equiteers circling the tower waiting for approval to land.
With the profit motive poised to hit the booster rockets, how real is the threat posed to Qantas's Australian workforce by cheaper, easier-to-manage overseas and casual staff? And do the current labour laws give casual workers enough protection in the case of, say, an unwanted mid-flight moment with a Hollywood heart throb?
Join Date: Oct 2004
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743 Transfer.
You are welome to it sydney s/haul.
The aircraft is absolute crappe.
It breaks down frequently...the galleys are a fright and stowage is minimal.
It holds almost 400 y/c pax...which aint pretty.
Good Riddance.
The aircraft is absolute crappe.
It breaks down frequently...the galleys are a fright and stowage is minimal.
It holds almost 400 y/c pax...which aint pretty.
Good Riddance.
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743
This rumour has surfaced in the past. Maybe one day it will happen, I'd be surpised if it was this year..... however thats only my opinion.
What bothers me about this happening is that if S/H are trained on the 743, then they would more than likely (eventually) end up on the 744...... eeeeek!
What bothers me about this happening is that if S/H are trained on the 743, then they would more than likely (eventually) end up on the 744...... eeeeek!
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Boys and Girls
Whatever happens happens.I reckon the company changes it's mind more than I've had hot meals.The union tells us something after the penny has dropped and one hand of the company does not have a clue what the other is going up to as well.So have another beer or more and who cares cos I'm not going to have a heart attack because of what might bloody happen.
It's time to go fishin again or maybe another beer or both
Whatever happens happens.I reckon the company changes it's mind more than I've had hot meals.The union tells us something after the penny has dropped and one hand of the company does not have a clue what the other is going up to as well.So have another beer or more and who cares cos I'm not going to have a heart attack because of what might bloody happen.
It's time to go fishin again or maybe another beer or both
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Hey Roam'in .....go back and read post #208.....
You appear to be yet another conscript for THE DETACHED INDIFFERENCE regiment.
The numbers are growing.
The Tide is a change'n.
Now all we need is a 90% vote for a YES ( to DETACHED INDIFFERENCE) and we collect $98m....easeee peeeezie
You appear to be yet another conscript for THE DETACHED INDIFFERENCE regiment.
The numbers are growing.
The Tide is a change'n.
Now all we need is a 90% vote for a YES ( to DETACHED INDIFFERENCE) and we collect $98m....easeee peeeezie
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Future of Melbourne LH Base?
As fascinating as the current conversation is, I thought I might try to discuss a rumour surfacing. The last time I asked this one I got growled at, but here we go again....
How secure is the future of MEL LH Base? I ask this question based on the following 3 observations.
Firstly, no manager appointed for MEL LH in the recent swapping of deck chairs in the management transit lounge.
Secondly, with the recent publication of pattern books for BP 250, flying for CFA's reduced by over 70%.
Thirdly, allocations have offered a significant number of tempoary base transfers to SYD for MEL crew across CFA and AC categories. This, after only a few months ago trying to encourage (...or con), people to transfer to MEL.
So, is this PER LH all over again? Does it fit in with future plans for AO crew? If anything, it's odd to say the least. Any thoughts?
How secure is the future of MEL LH Base? I ask this question based on the following 3 observations.
Firstly, no manager appointed for MEL LH in the recent swapping of deck chairs in the management transit lounge.
Secondly, with the recent publication of pattern books for BP 250, flying for CFA's reduced by over 70%.
Thirdly, allocations have offered a significant number of tempoary base transfers to SYD for MEL crew across CFA and AC categories. This, after only a few months ago trying to encourage (...or con), people to transfer to MEL.
So, is this PER LH all over again? Does it fit in with future plans for AO crew? If anything, it's odd to say the least. Any thoughts?
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Hey Stubby,
Mate your right and what breaks me up is the visitors who pretend to be interested in talking to you when your around the sign on area.I reckon they look like they are looking straight through you instead of too you.You tell them about something that should be looked at like the IFE and their eyes go glazy and the fake caring smile surfaces and they tell you they'll look into it.
You know that as soon as you have left they forget about it but then when you get back from a trip and the only thing on your mind is a shower and a kip they want to talk to you about some absolute rubbish.I feel like saying look pal you didn't want to talk to me the other day so I don't want to "chat with you know".
I should ask so mate what have you done about the IFE and when they say..."errr we're looking into it" you tell him "err I'll look into it " and then just walk off .
THE YEAR OF INDIFFERENCE.
Maybe I'll get a t-shirt with "I'M DISENGAGED" on the back
Mate your right and what breaks me up is the visitors who pretend to be interested in talking to you when your around the sign on area.I reckon they look like they are looking straight through you instead of too you.You tell them about something that should be looked at like the IFE and their eyes go glazy and the fake caring smile surfaces and they tell you they'll look into it.
You know that as soon as you have left they forget about it but then when you get back from a trip and the only thing on your mind is a shower and a kip they want to talk to you about some absolute rubbish.I feel like saying look pal you didn't want to talk to me the other day so I don't want to "chat with you know".
I should ask so mate what have you done about the IFE and when they say..."errr we're looking into it" you tell him "err I'll look into it " and then just walk off .
THE YEAR OF INDIFFERENCE.
Maybe I'll get a t-shirt with "I'M DISENGAGED" on the back
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re MEL base
And5678,
the difference between PER and MEL is the 744 flying, which will continue out of MEL at least till the A380 arrives.
Whether the base stays depends on who will do the 744 flying, eg Aust base or AKL.
All the talk I've heard is the A380's first route will be MEL-LAX-MEL, so that could imply that the base will be needed in the future.
Maybe the dedicated crew that are chosen for the A380 will be required to move to MEL initially?
the difference between PER and MEL is the 744 flying, which will continue out of MEL at least till the A380 arrives.
Whether the base stays depends on who will do the 744 flying, eg Aust base or AKL.
All the talk I've heard is the A380's first route will be MEL-LAX-MEL, so that could imply that the base will be needed in the future.
Maybe the dedicated crew that are chosen for the A380 will be required to move to MEL initially?