Qantas Industrial Action by engineers on 4 July

[anat0l]

Just got the word on the Twitter feed:

Qantas licenced engineers' union has announced industrial action for Mon 4 July. We will do everything to minimise impact. Details to come.

Mods: please stand by to remove the "[alleged]" bit when the news is confirmed. Or, remove thread if news is not confirmed, or please merge with suitable existing thread (I couldn't find one!)

 

[medhead]

Yay. Flying VA that day.

 

[cove]

Thanks for the post.I don't think the engineers understand that there is a world market and their price in US dollars is not sustainable with the currency at $1.04.

 

[loobloke]

Hahaha

The one day I fly in these few months ... and I was just about to book QF too ohh dear.
But ended up booking VA! YAY.

I shall let you know of the horrors in the VA terminal.

And I just checked the loadings for VA on that day a while earlier, I know my flights pretty much full already lol.

 

[awilcockson]

Noooo!

Flying out of Brisbane for LAX on the 5th (with 6 family members in tow!)

 

[Kendall Roy]

http://www.alaea.asn.au/attachments/article/267/ALAEA_Qantas_Announcement_220612 (final).pdf

"Qantas engineers today have announced a novel plan to take strike action against the airline without disrupting airline passengers. They have advised Qantas that they will make available strike-breakers from within their membership ranks to cover all planned work stoppages.

The union has offered to make the workers available from those members who are rostered off duty and able to work overtime during the stoppage periods. The concept of a union deliberately supplying strike-breakers against their own members appears to be an Australian first.

ALAEA Federal Secretary Steve Purvinas said that “first and foremost was the needs of the customer, our beef is not with them, it’s with thecurrent airline management team”.

More details in the PDF link.....

 

[codash1099]

http://www.alaea.asn.au/attachments/article/267/ALAEA_Qantas_Announcement_220612 (final).pdf

"Qantas engineers today have announced a novel plan to take strike action against the airline without disrupting airline passengers. They have advised Qantas that they will make available strike-breakers from within their membership ranks to cover all planned work stoppages.

The union has offered to make the workers available from those members who are rostered off duty and able to work overtime during the stoppage periods. The concept of a union deliberately supplying strike-breakers against their own members appears to be an Australian first.

ALAEA Federal Secretary Steve Purvinas said that “first and foremost was the needs of the customer, our beef is not with them, it’s with thecurrent airline management team”.

More details in the PDF link.....

Not only able to work overtime, but apparently they require payment for any strike-breaking work to be at overtime rates. They should be

 

[Kendall Roy]

They should be

Quite an interesting (even clever) strategy by the unions.

 

[awilcockson]

Quite an interesting (even clever) strategy by the unions.

A strategy which, according to nonews this morning, has been rejected by the Airline.

The union is talking about "rolling stoppages" over several days, which is just fantastic in the middle of school holidays.

I'm not quite sure what they are trying to achieve, but if my flight on the 5th is delayed or cancelled you can be certain that it's not going to make me support the engineers' cause!

 

[medhead]

I'm not quite sure what they are trying to achieve, but if my flight on the 5th is delayed or cancelled you can be certain that it's not going to make me support the engineers' cause!

Why not? Qantas has been given an option to not disrupt passengers. Why not focus on the fact that qantas has chosen to reject that ability to keep operations going.

It has also been reported that the union option costs less than what qantas are offering temporary engineers for the week. That is a union claim so not sure if it is correct. But if true and qantas refuse the union offer on principle and can't get temporary staff; I'll be directing my blame at qantas if my aircraft is delayed. They have been offered a solution and it is their choice to accept or reject.

 

[awilcockson]

Why not? Qantas has been given an option to not disrupt passengers. Why not focus on the fact that qantas has chosen to reject that ability to keep operations going.

Why not? Because although they gave them an "option" it was incredibly cheeky, did anyone really think that Qantas would reward them by paying overtime? Also they planned their strike right in the middle of school holidays where they will cause the most disruption.

I've never understood how inconveniencing the general public is supposed to sway them towards supporting your cause.

edit: Isn't there some sort of government arbitrator that is supposed to step in in situations like this to resolve pay disputes?

 

[medhead]

Why not? Because although they gave them an "option" it was incredibly cheeky, did anyone really think that Qantas would reward them by paying overtime? Also they planned their strike right in the middle of school holidays where they will cause the most disruption.

I've never understood how inconveniencing the general public is supposed to sway them towards supporting your cause.

edit: Isn't there some sort of government arbitrator that is supposed to step in in situations like this to resolve pay disputes?

Yes and they are working with that group. The union is taking legal industrial action and they have offered to do it in a way that does not need to cause disruption. That gets to the point that any disruption will be due to a qantas management decision.

Cost doesn't come into that decision, if it is true that qantas are offering to pay temporary LAMEs more than they would have to pay for current employees on overtime. Would love someone to clarify if that is true. Basically, qantas is prepared to pay more for non union strike breakers. Therefore, any disruptions will be because qantas is cutting off their nose to spite their face.

 

[drron]

Yes and they are working with that group. The union is taking legal industrial action and they have offered to do it in a way that does not need to cause disruption. That gets to the point that any disruption will be due to a qantas management decision.

Cost doesn't come into that decision, if it is true that qantas are offering to pay temporary LAMEs more than they would have to pay for current employees on overtime. Would love someone to clarify if that is true. Basically, qantas is prepared to pay more for non union strike breakers. Therefore, any disruptions will be because qantas is cutting off their nose to spite their face.

Well medhead I dont believe those that call you evil or uncaring-you are so trusting of people's good nature.
The purpose of a strike is to cause pain to the employer so that they will agree to at least something of what you are asking for.So the union explanation I doubt is complete.
The purpose of opposing a strike is to cause the strikers pain so that they will drop at least some of their demands.The QF response is consistent with this.

 

[medhead]

Well medhead I dont believe those that call you evil or uncaring-you are so trusting of people's good nature.
The purpose of a strike is to cause pain to the employer so that they will agree to at least something of what you are asking for.So the union explanation I doubt is complete.
The purpose of opposing a strike is to cause the strikers pain so that they will drop at least some of their demands.The QF response is consistent with this.

My wife says I'm predominately evil But she's working to fix me. In fact the first time I tried to reply the phone rang and it was her. She must have felt a disturbance in the force.

As for the mechanics of a strike I think we can agree that the union is trying to hurt qantas by making them pay more for staff. They are also seem to be trying to address the issue of disruption of the public with the offer to work at higher cost. An astute move IMO, as it then puts the disruption problem back onto qantas

Clearly also qantas are going to refuse the offer to try to make the union look bad (hurt them) for disrupting the public. This will work for some people but for me qantas has the power to stop the disruptions, without conceding anything in the negotiations. In that case, I see any disruption that I might experience to be a result of qantas' decision.

My analysis of both positions based on available information. That I accept the available information at face value doesn't mean I trust it is totally correct. This is still a 2 side story and we don't have all the information.

Otherwise, I still having trouble understanding why there is a strike if they are still in negotiation.

 

[awilcockson]

Otherwise, I still having trouble understanding why there is a strike if they are still in negotiation.

Exactly. And really, do they really want to give Qantas the excuse to sack the majority of them and either move the work off-shore or use cheap imported labour?

 

[medhead]

Exactly. And really, do they really want to give Qantas the excuse to sack the majority of them and either move the work off-shore or use cheap imported labour?

They can't be sacked for having a strike. (but yes for other reasons) I question the motivation of both sides in allowing this strike to happen.

 

[awilcockson]

They can't be sacked for having a strike.

I realise that, but antagonising the party you are attempting to negotiate with is hardly going to help get to a resolution. There's nothing to stop QF giving in on the demands and then off-shoring their work 12 months down the track ...

 

[medhead]

I realise that, but antagonising the party you are attempting to negotiate with is hardly going to help get to a resolution.

The antagonism seems to be going both ways.

Offshoring also seems to be plan A for qantas strike or not.

 

[awilcockson]

The antagonism seems to be going both ways.

Agreed completely. Both parties need to stop acting like 2 years olds and sit down and come to a sensible agreement.

 

[anchew]

Qantas has asked the ALAEA to suspend industrial action next week so it can focus on assisting stranded Tiger passengers #safetyfirst