QANTAS Pilots lose Federal Court appeal against protest actions

[Blackadder]

Qantas pilots lose federal court challenge | thetelegraph.com.au

 

[medhead]

Sorry in advance but I'm going to be difficult. Maybe this is a suggestion. Anyway, being on the AFF App I find threads that just link to the newspaper story to be problematic. I really don't follow the links while on the phone. So it would be nice for OPs to quote the but of the story that they find interesting/relevant and make a comment in that. Such an approach would be consistent with the AFF guideline on posting news stories.

Once again, sorry to be a grumpy old man.


Sent from the Throne

 

[eastwest101]

[h=1]Qantas pilots lose Fair Work challenge[/h] By court reporter Jamelle Wells

Updated May 10, 2012 15:32:05
Qantas pilots have lost their Federal Court appeal against a ban that prevents them from taking any form of industrial action.
Fair Work Australia imposed the ban last year after industrial action by pilots, engineers and ground staff that led to the Qantas fleet being grounded in October.
The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) argued its low-level industrial action - which included making announcements during flights, not wearing hats and wearing red ties instead of black ones - did not damage the economy.
AIPA said Fair Work went beyond its jurisdiction when it included the pilots' union in the November decision to end industrial disputes between Qantas and two other unions representing ground crews and licensed aircraft engineers.
At the time the appeal was lodged, union spokesman Nathan Safe said in a statement:
"Of the four parties involved in last year's unfortunate dispute, AIPA was the only one not to disrupt the flying public through industrial action."

But the full bench of the Federal Court in Sydney dismissed the application.
Outside court, AIPA vice-president Brad Hodson said the ruling was disappointing.
"Our campaign was not about disrupting the travelling public one iota," he said.
"It was about informing the public about the actions of the chief executive not really investing in Qantas and its company."

 

[eastwest101]

I noticed that earlier today as well. It isn't clear why the Pilots Union couldn't make their case.

Surely FWA did have the juristiction so don't see what the issue was there. I guess the pilot unions arguments about "low level" and non-disruptive weren't strong enough. If so that is very interesting - because it would seem that the most innocouous industrial action by a union would now seem to justify a nuclear response by the employer and because of this massive response would seem to bring the FWA into play?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

"It was about informing the public about the actions of the chief executive not really investing in Qantas and its company."

That is totally not the perception I had about those spiteful annnouncements.
Why didn't they just come out and say this from the beginning instead of trying to be sneaky. Unions never seem to get it right :O

 

[eastwest101]

That is totally not the perception I had about those spiteful annnouncements.
Why didn't they just come out and say this from the beginning instead of trying to be sneaky. Unions never seem to get it right :O

I must admit I never heard the announcements myself (flying DJ at the time) but wasn't this the script?

Ladies and gentlemen, this is (insert rank and name), together with (all participating crew) may I briefly have your attention.
On behalf of all Qantas pilots we would like to thank you for choosing to fly with Qantas. We are proud of our profession and our airline and trust you will support us in keeping Qantas pilots in Qantas aircraft and ensuring our great iconic airline remains uniquely Australian.
For more information and to register your support, please make your next destination qantaspilots.com.au.
Thank you.

 

[DC3]

"Our campaign was not about disrupting the travelling public one iota," he said.

"It was about informing the public about the actions of the chief executive not really investing in Qantas and its company."

+1. Totally agree with that sentiment.

 

[samh004]

I noticed that earlier today as well. It isn't clear why the Pilots Union couldn't make their case.

Surely FWA did have the juristiction so don't see what the issue was there. I guess the pilot unions arguments about "low level" and non-disruptive weren't strong enough. If so that is very interesting - because it would seem that the most innocouous industrial action by a union would now seem to justify a nuclear response by the employer and because of this massive response would seem to bring the FWA into play?

I guess it doesn’t matter what sort of action is taken to get a response, the fact that you are taking action is damaging, even in the simplest of terms.

 

[VHOEJ]

Well said Sam - the pilots union actions were designed to do some damage, but obviously in a different way to the other two.

As for the court case, not surprised by the outcome and seriously wonder why the union thought they had a strong enough case.

 

[pat25d]

I must admit I never heard the announcements myself (flying DJ at the time) but wasn't this the script?

Ladies and gentlemen, this is (insert rank and name), together with (all participating crew) may I briefly have your attention.
On behalf of all Qantas pilots we would like to thank you for choosing to fly with Qantas. We are proud of our profession and our airline and trust you will support us in keeping Qantas pilots in Qantas aircraft and ensuring our great iconic airline remains uniquely Australian.
For more information and to register your support, please make your next destination qantaspilots.com.au.
Thank you.

Wow, if my employees tried to disparage my company like that I would be firing them all.

 

[amaroo]

These guys were willing to hide behind & then ride the wake of the other unions - the fact they decided to use minor action is irrelevant.....it's sneaky, underhanded & kind of pathetic!

IMO there is something disgusting about the highest paid employees hiding behind the lowest paid.....I.E. baggage handlers. They then - after the event go to court & appeal saying it wasn't us, it was those bag handlers & engineers!

This union needs new management!

 

[N860CR]

Hate to say it... but alot of the baggage handlers are higher paid than some of the pilots!

 

[Moopere]

Thankfully I missed the period of the pilots briefing the customers on the state of affairs ... and thank goodness too, that would have seriously annoyed me as a customer. I don't want to be exposed to this sort of rubbish.

Imagine if every worker in every industry did the same? Before you buy a cheeseburger to have to listen to the 15yr old give a spiel on his grievances. As you get on the bus, it doesn't move off the curb until the driver has introduced new passengers to the plight that is being a bus driver today....

Its just ridiculous.