QANTAS GROUNDED!!!!

[romephius]

G'day all,

well the past 5.5 hours here have been interesting and a little spooky.

Full story is here: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8367129/qantas-will-lock-out-employees

[John S]

Seems like Quantas wants the government to intervene by forcing the issue. The shutdown at the airline has been reported on the TV news in Britain, but we were not offered any real explanation of why it's happening.

We are all used to being frustrated by loss of service because unions call strikes, bit of a new one to have the management of an international service company using a lock out. I wonder if other companies will think of following suit?

 

[Ian]

Thats a BIG stick they're waving Rom.

[romephius]

On this particular occasion I think Qantas made the right move.  I don't think it is something that should be done lightly, but, when it's the engineers taking industrial action and maintenance isn't being done, the only safe thing to do is just ground the entire fleet.

I don't think it will take long for the government to get off it's arse and force a resolution.  I'd love to be one of the people coming up with that one..... I'd love to see the unions reaction to anything I'd come up with.... because of how I was brought up, it would actually be fair to both sides.... whether they like it or not.

[Alianora La Canta]

It's strange... ...there are all these reports that the unions are apparently being unreasonable but I can find no detail whatsoever as to what the demands are. Could someone please explain?

[romephius]

Unfortunately details about ongoing Enterprise bargaining agreements are very quiet.  I am currently in one at work and unless you read the document (which is considered confidential) you won't really know what they are asking for.  The union that has managed to get itself involved in ours has added certain clauses to the EBA, which, in the opinion of most of us in my branch, are ridiculous and un-related to our industry.

As for the Qantas problem, who knows, there are 3 unions involved and from my experience it's hard enough to come to an euqitable resolution for the company and employees that the union is happy with, let alone 3 of them.  The grounding is not due to the domestic pilots at all.  It is about the engineers and a lack of ability to service the planes to the proper level.  The domestic pilots are supposed to still show up to work and get paid, they just won't be flying for their pay.

As is my understanding from certain industry insiders.

[Ian]

It's usually the same with all disputes, only the people on the ground, so as to speak, are the ones that know. When I was on the railway we were in dispute(strike action) and all you read in the media was what the company put out, when you looked at it it was a good deal, but, what was never printed was, compulsary christmas working, compulsary on-call, flat rate for o/time working, etc.

[Alianora La Canta]

I was just surprised because I couldn't even find a classically vague "striking over pay & conditions" explanation when I first looked (maybe this one would simply be "striking over conditions"). Thank you, Rom and Ian, for your advice.

[cosworth151]

Lockouts aren't uncommon over here. The National Basketball League is currently in the middle of one. The NFL had one earlier this year.

[Scott]

Almost had a strike at Air Canada a short while ago.  Union walked away from the table, govt stepped in and threatened to declare the airline a necessary service (like fire dept and police).  Negotiations were back on next day and settled.  Now the pilot union is stupid enough to try the same thing. 

IMO the days are gone when airline work was glamorous and high paid.  When I can fly for about $60/hr on plenty of regional and charter airlines, why would I not expect the same on 'national' airlines?  About time the unions realize they are barely a step above a busline, or they simply won't have any jobs to unionize.

[romephius]

Thems fightin words Scotty....    I have been abused, called stupid and much worse tonight by apparent friends because I don't support unions and how they bully business into doing what they want.

I think the aviation industry is specialised as it requires so much to get licenced to fly and all the additional training, check flights and medical requirements, let's not forget that they are also ultimately responsible for everyone on board the planes, so, they do deserve a higher amount of pay, but, they shouldn't be able to hold a company to ransom because someone who knows nothing about being a pilot is telling them that they need to get more (even if they are amongst the highest paid in the industry, like Qantas pilots are).

I think unions have had their time and are now amongst many archaic, corrupt and greedy organisations in the world.  They spend most of their time causing havoc for large international firms when they think that they can get more members (more money) from whatever situation they can blow out of proportion.

Currently the Electical Trades Union (ETU) is trying the bully tactics with Konica Minolta.  My branch (Brisbane) told the unions to take a hike, that they didn't know what we needed and they were demanding useless things that made no difference to us.  But, because of their propaganda, many techs in Sydney and Melbourne joined, the number of people unionised makes up approx 52% of the techs, so any vote for a fair work agreement keeps getting voted down by them.  To make matters worse, they don't realise that the company offered us everything we initially wanted, now it's still not enough for them and as they complain that we aren't getting pay rises, they fail to understand that it is their fault and more accurately the unions fault.  But the union doesn't care, they've made their money.

Anyways.... I've ranted enough.... I could probably go on for hours about how bad they are and how much I hate them.

[Ian]

I 70% agree with you Rom, same over here, the union GS's are now fatcats and they don't want to lose their cushy overpaid jobs with subsidised housing. But I don't want to get too political.