As published in today's Crikey
Academic Virginia Lee got the same email, and sent one back to the CEO. No doubt Joyce hasn’t got around to reading it, so we reproduce it here:
Dear Mr Joyce,
Firstly, thank you for the update on the events as they are unfolding. But I have to advise you of the following issues that have arisen due to your recent action. While these are my personal opinions only, I must also advise that they are widely held by my colleagues in the University system and those I work with in the commercial world of practice, here and overseas.
1. I am a gold frequent flyer due to my loyalty to the Qantas brand and the fact that it is staffed by Australian pilots and serviced in Australia. I have always been willing to pay more for this surety. Your action has completely undermined this
2. Your unilateral decision to place so many people’s lives in chaos and uncertainty is unforgiveable — any loyalty to the operations and ongoing existence of Qantas as an Australian entity is trashed.
3. Despite your assurances I now have little confidence in being able to travel where I want — and while I am not entirely sympathetic with the unions I was prepared to wear the inconvenience while things were being played out through the appropriate channels. Due entirely to your actions I am currently instructing all my future travel to be arranged through
Virgin Australia and via alternative international carriers. I will not be travelling on JetStar or JetScare as it is known as I’m over being treated badly.
4. We hear that you are making big losses on international routes. I have had multiple overseas journeys with you over the past few years and not once have I been anything but jammed in to fully booked planes — how can this be that you are making losses — can it be poor management decisions? I have to travel economy in the University system and I suffer for it. The time when I couldn’t fly with you due to scheduling issues, was with Cathay Pacific which was far more comfortable. Despite this I elected to remain with Qantas. Now I see no further reason to do this. You will trash the airline whether we support Qantas or not. I regard this as the Board’s and your agenda.
5. Your expansive pay rise voted in in the middle of industrial action and in the face of Occupy movements around the world in relation to corporate greed and insolence smacks of an organisation only in touch with the big business end of town and not your paying customers. As a public relations exercise this was disastrous and lost you even more support at grass roots level.
There is more but I know this will be another waste of time as I consider that Qantas management is so out of touch with the everyday existence of their customers that you will see I come from a University, brand me as left wing and ignore my opinions.
I see this is sent on a do not reply email — so even in response we customers have no voice. I have tried to find an email to send this back to you with little luck so I will send to others to see if they can find a way through your one-way firewall. Please do not email me again.
Best of luck with the future dismantling of our once great carrier and Australian icon
You’ve lost me
Yours sincerely
Professor Virginia Lee